Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi has demanded that the age threshold for juvenile offenders be lowered to 14 years, arguing that minors involved in serious crimes should face punishment similar to adults.
Azmi said the current age threshold should be reduced, calling for stricter accountability for young offenders. His demand comes amid continuing debate over how the criminal justice system should deal with minors accused of serious offences.
Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, anyone below 18 is considered a child. However, the law allows cases involving children aged 16 to 18 who are accused of heinous offences to be assessed for possible trial as adults.
The Juvenile Justice Board conducts a preliminary assessment of the child’s mental and physical capacity to commit the alleged offence and ability to understand its consequences. The process does not automatically mean that every child in this age group will be tried as an adult.
Azmi’s proposal would require changes to the existing legal framework. It raises questions about the age at which criminal responsibility should be assessed and how the law should balance accountability with the rehabilitation of children.
The demand adds to the broader debate over juvenile justice in India, particularly in cases involving serious crimes and calls for stricter punishment.