Juvenile release worries December 16 rape victim kin

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Union and Delhi governments on a complaint by the parents of the December 16, 2012 gangrape victim, apprehending threat to society from the juvenile convict, who is set to be released next month.

The commission has taken cognisance of the complaint.“They have stated that the juvenile, who was largely responsible for the death of their daughter and was the most brutal amongst all the offenders, is supposed to be released sometime in December. They have submitted that such persons are threat to the life and liberty of the common man. There should be a mechanism to keep a strict check on them so that people are not subjected to any risk of being harmed. The complainants have also stated that the rate of recidivism (committing crimes again) is fairly high,” according to a statement issued by the NHRC.

The parents have requested the commission to recommend to the government to prepare a plan to protect the citizens from such delinquent juveniles post their release and also to strengthen the extant laws on the subject.

The complainants have also cited that similar laws like SORNA (Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act) that requires states to monitor and track convicted sex offenders following their release into the community and operates in countries such as USA, Canada and others, should be implemented in India.

The commission on its part observed, “There is no doubt that the complainants have undergone extreme agony and pain after the incident of rape and murder of their daughter. The fears expressed by them need to be looked into.”

The parents have also made a representation to the Union home minister on the same and submitted the copy of the representation to the commission along with the complaint.