Rajya Sabha passes the Juvenile Justice Bill with amendments. The Left parties walked out as the Bill is put to vote. The AIADMK, SP, DMK opposed the Bill. All through the five hours that it took for the Bill to be adopted and passed, the Delhi Braveheart's parents were in parliament watching the proceedings.


The Bill replaces the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.  It addresses children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection.  The Bill permits juveniles between the ages of 16-18 years to be tried as adults for heinous offences.  Also, any 16-18 year old, who commits a lesser, i.e., serious offence, may be tried as an adult only if he is apprehended after the age of 21 years. Juvenile Justice Boards (JJB) and Child Welfare Committees (CWC) will be constituted in each district. The JJB will conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine whether a juvenile offender is to be sent for rehabilitation or be tried as an adult.  The CWC will determine institutional care for children in need of care and protection. Eligibility of adoptive parents and the procedure for adoption have been included in the Bill.  Penalties for cruelty against a child, offering a narcotic substance to a child, and abduction or selling a child have been prescribed.

However, the bill does not have retrospective effect, which means it will not affect the juvenile convict in the Delhi gang rape case.