Adult crime

Sir — This refers to the report, “For major crimes ‘16’ is not minor” (November 28). The proposal that juveniles in the age bracket of 16 to 18 years committing heinous crimes, should have protection under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, is faulty.

In the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, all the accused were charged with rape and murder but one of them, having fallen short by six months of the age of 18 on the date the crime was committed, was tried by a juvenile justice board and sentenced to a short term. 

Rape is a well thought-out and intentional crime committed by a person physically capable of sexual activity. Any differentiation between rapists on the basis of age is a travesty of law and justice.