SCCI president requests PM Modi to review Juvenile Justice Act 

Jamshedpur, Feb 23:  Vijay Anand Moonka, president, Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industries has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review Juvenile Justice Act 1986.

“Protective measures were taken as per the earlier Juvenile Act, 1960, which was later amended as Juvenile Justice Act, 1986. According to the Act, a juvenile is a child who has not completed the age of 16 years. Such a delinquent juvenile cannot even be punished with imprisonment. If a juvenile who has attained the age of 14 years and commits an offense of a serious nature, the Juvenile Court may order the delinquent juvenile to be kept in safe custody in such place and manner as it thinks fit. The Act specifically prohibits detention in police stations or jails,” said Moonka.

He told that a well-planned child justice system is going on which includes Child Welfare Board, Children’s Court, Observation Home, Children’s Home etc. Criminal law and procedure have made long concessions to children, including immunity from criminal responsibility (Indian Sections 82 and 83 Penal Code).

He said that while appreciating the various initiatives taken by the authorities to bring the juvenile delinquents into the mainstream of social life and educate them to be good citizens, we strongly feel that the Juvenile Act of 1986 needs some legitimate review.

He said that equal treatment to all juvenile offenders does not appear to be a wise decision.

Giving a concrete example, he said that if a 15-year-old boy commits rape and since he is a juvenile in the eyes of the law, he gets all the protection that the Act provides. If he is physically and mentally mature enough, why should he not be treated as a mature adult to commit a heinous crime like rape and the punishment given to him should be as per law for adult offenders.

He said that news of mobile snatching can be easily seen on daily basis in every print media every day. The criminals who could have been arrested in these cases are mostly found in the age group of 14-18.

He requested the Prime Minister to review the age related to the Act and make arrangements to reduce the age from 16 to 14 years. He said that it has become a smart practice nowadays to treat a person as a juvenile It is reported that several gangs working in rackets use children as tools for theft, snatching, dacoity etc. to take undue advantage of the beneficial provisions of the Act.

Taking advantage of this act, children are being used continuously for other crimes like snatching, theft, robbery, molestation.