Nirbhaya’s Parents Demand Change in Juvenile Justice Act

New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) The parents of 'Nirbhaya' on Monday led a massive demonstration here, demanding that the Juvenile Justice Act 2000 be amended to treat a juvenile youth committing a heinous crime as an adult offender.

"We will fight for the bill to get passed in the Rajya Sabha," Badrinath Singh, the father of 'Nirbhaya', said.

He, however, also expressed despair.

"I have little hopes from the government. It has failed us. Justice is not being served".

Asha Devi, the mother of 'Nirbhaya', also expressed disappointment, saying the Supreme Court's dismissal on Monday of an appeal against the release of a juvenile convicted for the gang rape of her daughter was another blow to her hopes for justice.

"I knew that the verdict will be such. The government did not even go to the court today," she said.

Dismissing the petition by the Delhi Commission for Women, the apex court on Monday said, "we share your concern, but we cannot go beyond the law."

After the hearing at the apex court, hundreds of people joined Nirbhaya's parents in the demonstration at Jantar Mantar, demanding that the law be changed to allow stricter punishment for serious offenders among juveniles.

Asha Devi said nothing had changed since 2012 when her daughter was gang raped.

"We were on roads protesting in 2012 and we are still on the roads today. I have lost hope in justice," she said.

"Had the convict not been released I would not have come to the streets."

Asha Devi said, however, that she was resolved to continue her struggle for justice.

'Nirbhaya', a 23-year-old medical student, was gang raped and brutalised in a moving bus in Delhi in 2012.