HC seeks Kejriwal, 5 AAP leaders’ response on defamation

Delhi High Court today asked for response of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders on a civil defamation suit filed against them by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Joint Registrar (JR) Kovai Venugopal issued notices to Kejriwal and other AAP leaders — Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha and Deepak Bajpai — on the suit by Jaitley for issuing allegedly false and defamatory statements against him and his family members.

The court also asked AAP convenor Kejriwal and other leaders of his party to file original documents related to the allegations levelled in the suit against them in one week. While Kejriwal and Vishwas were not present in the high court, four of the AAP leaders, Ashutosh, Sanjay, Raghav and Deepak, attended the proceedings.

• Naresh Kumar Sagar
• December 22, 2015

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RS takes up Juvenile Justice bill

Rajya Sabha is now discussing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill 2015. It has already been passed by the Lok Sabha.

Initiating the discussion, Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said the bill makes a distinction between a crime committed by a child innocently and an offence committed with a criminal bent of mind. The legislation aims at ensuring proper care, protection, development and social reintegration of children in difficult circumstances by adopting child-friendly approach. She said the increasing cases of crimes committed by children in the age group of 16 to 18 makes it evident that the current provisions under the juvenile justice law are inadequate to tackle child offenders. Participating in the discussion, leader of opposition Gulam Nabi Azad welcomed the bill. He suggested intensive night patrolling by the police in the streets to prevent the children from going astray.
The Bill permits the trial of juveniles between the age group of 16 to 18 years as adults for heinous offences. The bill also provides for the trial of a child in the age group of 16 to 18 involved in non-serious crimes as an adult if he is apprehended after attaining the age of 21 years. Juvenile Justice Boards, JJB, and Child Welfare Committees will be constituted in each district. The JJB will conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine whether a juvenile offender is to be sent for rehabilitation or to be tried as an adult.