Time for candle vigils is over: Maliwal
NEW DELHI: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal called Monday “a dark day for women”, the day when the Supreme Court rejected a special plea by the panel to extend the detention of the December 16 gang rape convict.
Maliwal alleged that the Rajya Sabha had “cheated the country” by not passing the amended Juvenile Justice bill, which has provisions for stronger punishment to juvenile delinquents involved in heinous crimes such as rape. The convict was released on Sunday from an observation home on completion of his three-year term at Majnu Ka Tila and sent to an NGO at an undisclosed location.
“It is a dark day for women in the 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,” Maliwal said. “I think the time for candle marches is over and women should pick up mashaals (torches) instead to demand for justice,” she said.
Maliwal had moved the Supreme Court late on Saturday night with a Special Leave Petition to stall the release of the gang rape convict. The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the DCW petition, saying “there has to be a clear legislative sanction” in this regard. An apex court bench did not agree with the submission that the offender can be subjected to the reformation process for a further period of two years under the juvenile law.