Lowering age of juvenile is against child rights: NCPCR

The Women and Child Development ministry has proposed a draft bill to repeal the Juvenile Justice Act 2000, calling for lowering the age of a juvenile in cases of heinous crimes from 18 to 16.

The ministry uploaded its draft bill on its official website on June 18 and gave fifteen days time for comments and recommendations on it.

The NCPCR has opposed some provisions of the draft bill.

‘There is no need to change the entire Act. If something needs to be changed, it needs to be incorporated in the existing Act,’ NCPCR Chairperson Kushal Singh said.

‘We have always opposed this kind of proposal as it would be against child rights. There should be a lot of discussion and debate before repealing the Act. I will write a letter to the ministry regarding this,’ Singh said.

Last week, NCPCR held meetings with various NGO’s working for child rights.