Delhi gangrape: Police to study court ruling on minor accused

New Delhi: Forty-three days after a horrific gangrape shocked India like never before, a Juvenile Justice Board has settled a raging debate, ruling that the sixth accused in the case is a juvenile and hence, cannot be tried and sentenced under criminal law.

The Board went with records of the school where the juvenile studied and then dropped out. The principals had produced school leaving records which put his date of birth at June 4, 1995, making him 17 years and 6 months when the crime occurred.

The court had summoned both - the then principal and the current principal of the school from which the juvenile dropped out in Class 3. The then principal of the school told the media outside the courtroom that the date on the register was as per the statement of the mother of the minor.

The Juvenile Justice Board on Monday ruled that the sixth accused in the case was a juvenile.

Police sources say a decision on whether they will appeal against this order in sessions court hasn't been taken yet stating they are yet to study the full order. An enquiry report detailing the role of the juvenile in the brutal rape has been submitted to the Board.

Under the Juvenile Justice Act, if the minor is found in conflict with the law, he can only be sent for reform for a maximum of three years at a correction centre under a probation officer.

The five others accused are adults and are facing trial in a regular court. They have been accused of murder which carries death as the maximum penalty.

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