The Supreme Court dismissed plea against the release of juvenile convict in December 16 gangrape case. Swati Maliwal, chief of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) called the dismissal as a black day for women and said the country has been “cheated” as a proposed law which could have allowed stronger punishment to him remains pending in Rajya Sabha

“It is a black day for women in history of the country. I also believe that the Rajya Sabha has cheated the country by keeping the law pending which could have facilitated stronger punishment for juveniles in heinous crimes,” said Swati.

She was referring to the bill to amend the Juvenile Justice Act which remains stuck in the Rajya Sabha. The proposed amendment bill seeks stringent punishment for children aged 16-18 years involved in heinous crimes

The Juvenile convicted in the December 16 gangrape was released after his completion of three years in the Juvenile Home, the maximum punishment under the present Juvenile justice Act.