Juvenile could walk free on December 20

Nirbhaya's Mother Asha Devi speaks at a programme to observe the third anniversary of Nirbhaya gang-rape case as 'Nirbhaya Chetna Divas' at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Social activist Shabana Azmi is also seen. (PTI Photo)   The juvenile convict in the December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case moved closer to freedom on Friday after the Delhi High Court refused to stop his release on his completing the three-year sentence. The court cited existing provisions of the law while holding that no direction could be issued to prolong his stay in the observation home beyond Sunday. A Division Bench of the High Court, hearing a writ petition moved by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, said the maximum stay that could be directed in the observation home under Section 15 (1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act was three years. The juvenile, who is now an adult, will be completing three years on December 20. However, the Bench, comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath, directed the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board of Delhi to interact with the juvenile, his parents and guardians and the Delhi government’s Women and Child Development Department officials for his post-release rehabilitation and “social mainstreaming.” The Hindu