Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: The Juvenile Justice Board on Thursday framed rape and murder charges against the minor accused in the case of gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi on December 16, 2012.
The paramedical student was brutally assaulted on a moving bus by six persons, which included the minor too.
The assaulted victim was shifted to a Singapore hospital for treatment where she succumbed to her injuries on December 29.
Finding prima facie evidence against the 17-year-old juvenile, Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel ordered framing of charges under various provisions of the IPC dealing with gang-rape, murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences, attempt to murder, dacoity, destruction of evidence and conspiracy.
The Board has now fixed the case on March 06 for recording of evidence.
The charges of robbery, wrongful confinement and destruction of evidence have also been framed against the juvenile in another case of robbing a vegetable seller prior who had boarded the bus on the fateful night before the gang rape victim and her friend allegedly became the prey of the minor and his five adult co-accused.
The panel will commence recording of evidence in the robbery case from March 12 against the juvenile.
In both the cases, the minor claimed innocence and opted to contest the charges framed by the juvenile justice board.
Earlier, the police had in its PIR (police investigation report, which is equivalent to charge sheet) filed before the JJB slapped charges of gang-rape, murder, unnatural sex, dacoity, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence among other offences under the Indian Penal Code against the minor.
Similar charges have been framed against the other five adult accused in the case, proceedings in which are being conducted in-camera at a special fast track court here.
Separately, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the government has no plan to reduce the age of juveniles under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Replying to a question on suggestions for amending the Act, she said, “We are not yet ready to reduce the age of juveniles.”
(With PTI inputs)
