By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The women’s organizations in the state have supported the idea of amending the Juvenile Justice Act to consider only who are below 16 years as minors against the present 18 years.
CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said, “We agree with the idea as many of the rapes are perpetuated by persons belonging to the age group of 17-18.”
She was also of the view that mindset of the society towards women needs to change for the safety of the fairer sex.
It may be mentioned that the Chief Secretary WMS Pariat and DGP Kulbir Krishan, who took part in the meeting on crime against women, convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, had suggested that considering the rise in rape cases involving minors, there is a need to amend the Juvenile Justice Act to consider minors as those who are below 16 years.
A member of the Child Welfare Committee said on condition of anonymity that there is a need to amend the juvenile justice act as children within age group of 16-17 are almost like adults.
The Meghalaya United Women’s Welfare Organization president Aruna Biswa however said rapists should be considered as adults irrespective of their age.
The suggestion assumes significance in view of the fact that one of the rapists in the infamous New Delhi gang rape is a juvenile while many of the rape crimes in the State are being committed by juveniles.