New Delhi: The Centre, on Monday asked the Delhi High Court to extend the observation home stay of the juvenile convict in December 16, 2012 Delhi Gang-rape case, on the grounds that several mandatory aspects were missing from the post-release rehabilitation plan, which needed to be considered before setting him free.
The juvenile convict is set to be released on Sunday, December 20.
After hearing the brief arguments and perusing the post-release plan which was submitted by the central government, the court reserved its verdict on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s PIL seeking stay on the juvenile’s release.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain said that it has several “concerns” regarding the plan made by the management committee (MC), set up as per the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Rules, which does not make any mention on the mental health status of the juvenile, which is a mandatory requirement under the rules.
Swamy told a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath that though the juvenile’s term may have ended, the court can “circumscribe” his movements.
Threat to society
Endorsing Dr Swamy’s PIL, Nirbhaya’s parents have demanded that the juvenile convict’s mental condition be assessed before setting him free.
The convict, then aged under 18, is said to have inflicted maximum injury on the 23-year-old paramedical student, who died 13 days later, triggering a massive public outrage.
“We demand that he should not be allowed to walk free as he is a threat to the society. There is a need to assess his mental condition before releasing him, so that he does not attack some other girl, like he had killed our daughter,” the father of the victim said.
