Must make Juvenile Justice law as per the need of time, people: Kiren Rijiju

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju.

AMID protests against release of the juvenile convicted in the December 16, 2012 gangrape case, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Monday said the law should be made according to the need of time and as per society’s requirement.

“We understand the sentiments of the parents… (of the victim) and others. But law is law. We think law should be according to the need of the time and what the people want… that is good,” he said, speaking on sidelines of an ITBP event. He reiterated that the Centre had submitted in court that it was not the right time to release the juvenile.

“This issue is being raised in Parliament… We have passed the Juvenile Justice Bill in Lok Sabha… We have two more days and we wish it could be cleared in Rajya Sabha too. But there is no retrospective effect,” he said. During a separate meeting with reporters, he refused to comment on the report prepared by the IB on the juvenile. “We have submitted the report in court. It is not proper to discuss it outside,” he said, when asked if the National Security Act could be invoked against him.