Govt submits rehab plan for juvenile convict

Delhi government on Friday said that they have submitted a rehabilitation plan for the juvenile convict in December 16, 2012 gang-rape case, who is all set to walk free on Sunday.

The government said that as per the plan a one-time financial grant of Rs 10,000 will be given to the youth and a sewing machine will be arranged for him so that he can rent a tailor shop.

“Government has already submitted its report in the court on the rehabilitation of the juvenile convict who has turned 20-year-old now,” said a senior government official.

The official noted that the government will act as per the existing Juvenile Justice Act.

In its report, Delhi government said that the juvenile needs help to sustain a business for an initial period of at least six months and meet the expenses such as renting a shop and procuring tailoring material.

The convict in the brutal December 16, 2012 gang-rape-cum-murder case will walk free on December 20 after spending three years in the probation home with the Delhi High Court on Friday refusing to stay his release.

Meanwhile, the release of the youth was widely criticised by the parents of the victim and various other bodies, saying he must be kept in observation home until his reformation was ascertained.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal expressed serious concerns on the order of Delhi high court to release the juvenile culprit and called it a ‘dark day’ in the history of the country. Maliwal announced her decision to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the decision of Delhi high court.

“Extremely sad that Nirbhaya’s convict will walk free on 20th. Dark day in history of the county. Will be appealing to Chief Justice of High Court and Supreme Court and the President to intervene. Nirbhaya rapist should not be released,” she tweeted.

“Some kind of an analysis needs to be done as to what kind of a reformation this man has gone through. We are hounded by emails, messages and calls from women who are feeling scared with the very fact that this man will come out in open. He could be travelling in a taxi or a bus,” she added.

She further said that the Juvenile Justice Act must undergo changes to accommodate that the accused undergoes punishment like an adult. “The parents must also be given protection from the accused who is a threat not only to them but to every woman in the city,” she said.

While most of the social activists in the city expressed shock and concerns on the release of the culprit, Kavita Krishnan asserted that instead of extending the juvenile’s stay in the observation home, the government must concentrate on working on reforms and rehabilitation of the juveniles.