Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Barkha Shukla on Tuesday said that she is thankful to the Supreme Court for taking up the matter of reconsideration of Juvenile law.
Barkha Shukla told ANI, "I congratulate the Supreme Court (SC) that they have taken notice of the matter. Children between 16-18 years of age should be treated as adults."
"They know that, according to the existing laws, if they commit crime they will get out being a juvenile. Even if they go to improvement homes, they run over from there. After coming out they against commit crime," she added.
Appreciating the step taken by the Supreme Court she said "I think we must welcome the initiative by SC. Parliament should revisit and amend the juvenile act."
A 23-year-old student and her male friend were attacked by six men on December 16, 2012 after they got on a private bus while going home from the cinema. Her friend was thrown to the back of the bus after being battered with an iron rod, which was later used to torture her. The couple was then thrown from the bus. The young woman succumbed due to her injuries 13 days later while battling for her life.
Last September four of her attackers were convicted after the case was fast-tracked, while a juvenile was sentenced to three years in a detention centre. Ram Singh, who is the sixth accused in this case was found dead in jail in March last year.