Law's hands are tied in juvenile case: SC

Any court decision has to be within the confines of the law. Likewise, it is incumbent on the people that they should not seek what's not there in the law. This was the decision of the Supreme Court in regard to the then juvenile delinquent in the Nirbhaya case who has undergone 3-year sentence already. The court said it was aware of the popular thinking about the delinquent in the Nirbhaya case. But the court's hands are tied as far as the law relating to juveniles is concerned. Referring to the appeal by the Delhi Women's Commission, the court said it noted the commission's sentiments, but a juvenile could not be kept in jail for more than 3 years. Senior advocates Guru Krishnakumar and Devadatta Kamat represented the commission. The commission had sought strignent punishment for the juvenile. Swati Maliwal of the commission said the behaviour of the juvenile and the fact that he had be to sent to a special home proved that he was still a danger to women. The commission, therefore, felt that he should be kept away from causing danger to society.