The government’s decision to amend the Child Act in response to rising juvenile delinquency and criminal activities has drawn our grave attention. Just within the space of a week last month, two incidents — where a teacher was killed by his student in Ashulia and a principal was forced to wear a garland of shoes in Narail — brought renewed focus to the issue. And the rising trend of gang culture buttressed by local political clouts, particularly student wings of the ruling party, has changed the social mosaic and values instilled for many centuries. As criminals live in large and exercise state powers, and law enforcers harass plaintiffs instead of offenders, the youth has altered their values.
The issue of lowering the age threshold is more delicate in a society where the prevalence of child labour or marriage is as much a result of deep-rooted socio-economic conditions as of loopholes prevailing in the laws. But the rise of teenage gangs who are getting involved in violent crimes needs to be addressed. The age of gang members has proven to be a barrier to criminal trial when they are sent to court. There is also the problem of manipulating birth records. To escape punishment, a delinquent may be falsely shown to be below 18 — the current legal age limit — as happened with the main accused in the murder case of the Ashulia teacher. On the other hand, in the case of early marriage, the bride’s parents may manipulate records to show her as being of marriageable age.
Therefore, we feel that any change in the Child Act, and the definition of children, needs to be done judiciously. The government may also consider other options like trying certain juvenile crimes, like murder, under “special circumstances”. Where the country’s social mosaic reached today is a sheer derailment of our culture and values. The government should emphasise juvenile correction facilities and stop gang culture by taking political and legal actions against their patrons.
