Accused questions constitution of JJB

Appeal of the accused admitted in court, hearing on interim relief scheduled for April 11

As if nine years were not enough, the prime accused in the Ashiana gang rape has played yet another card to further delay the victim’s quest for justice. The accused challenged the decision of the Juvenile Justice Board that declared him a major at the time of the crime in its decision of March 21.

In his appeal challenging the decision, the accused has raised questions on the constitution of JJ Board. The appeal of the accused was admitted in the court on Saturday and the hearing on interim relief has been scheduled for April 11, a move that would further pro- long the case, delaying the trial of the prime accused that is yet to begin after nearly a decade.

The prime accused in its appeal mentioned that the term of the JJ Board had expired and so the board was non-existent in the eyes of law.

Victim’s lawyer Jalaj Gupta said, “It is the same board before which the hearings were held for long. The accused presented all possible proofs of his age to prove his juvenile status. If the board’s constitution was unfair, why did the accused not question it before the decision?”

“It is nothing but a display of money and power once again. Big lawyers, connections and money is what has kept the prime accused safe for so many years and this is yet another tactic,” said the victim’s father.

When contacted, the mem- bers of the Lucknow JJ Board said that the government had extended their term. Dinesh Pandey, member Lucknow JJ Board said, “The term of all 66 JJ Boards across the state has been extended by the government till the time proceedings for the constitution of new board are underway. We work for law and would not do anything that is against it.”

The term of all JJ Boards across the state had expired in August 2013 after a term of three years.

The appeal and its proceedings would delay the case further, adding to the anxiety of the victim. The victim cried inconsolably over the delay in her case, at the HT Woman award function held on April 3. She raised questions on the nation’s judicial system, calling it pro-criminals. She alleged that it was the victim who was made to suffer and the laws favoured the accused.