JUVENILE

Panel to examine lowering age of juvenility from 18 to 15 years, death penalty for perpetrators of heinous rape cases

The Delhi government, on Monday, said it was working towards toughening its stand on crime, especially of a sexual nature, perpetrated by minors.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who presided over a special session of the Cabinet earlier during the day, said a Group of Ministers had been constituted specifically for the purpose.

"There have been three cases of rape in Delhi over the past week which have rattled me and everyone in the Capital...Things cannot be allowed to continue like this any longer," Mr Kejriwal said.

"It has been decided to constitute a Group of Ministers under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Home Minister Satyendra Jain which will examine the issue and prepare a report on the same to be submitted within 15 days to the Cabinet," he added.

The Chief Minister said the Aam Aadmi Party-led (AAP) government would seek to reduce the age of juvenility from 18 to 15 and recommend the death penalty for perpetrators of heinous sexual offences.