New Delhi:
The judgement in the December 16 gang-rape case involving a minor accused was again deferred today till August 31 by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).
The JJB, presided over by Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel, postponed the verdict saying that the Supreme Court is expected to pronounce its order on the maintainability of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which seeks fresh interpretation of the term 'juvenile' in the statute.
The police, after attending the proceedings, told the media outside the court that the verdict has been deferred as the apex court has reserved its order on the maintainability of the PIL.
This is the fourth time that the verdict has been deferred by the Board since July 11.
The Supreme Court had on August 14 reserved it order on a PIL filed by former MP Subramanian Swamy seeking a fresh interpretation of the term 'juvenile'.
Referring to a provision of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, Mr Swamy had said it was "badly" drafted and needed to be revisited as it was in violation of the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and Beijing Rules on the issue.
He said that the "mental and intellectual maturity" of minor offenders be considered instead of the age limit of 18 years while fixing their culpability.
Mr Swamy also cited the alleged role of the juvenile in the December 16 gang-rape case.
The juvenile was one of six persons who had allegedly gang-raped a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus in Delhi. The victim died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.