New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha, India’s Upper House, has passed a landmark law allowing to try criminals aged more than 16 years as adults in heinous crimes such as rape and murder.

The parliamentarians engaged in a lengthy debate before it was put to a voice vote after the Left parties staged a walk out.

The Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill, which was first introduced by Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi in August 2014, has already been passed in Lok Sabha.

Asha Devi and Badrinath, parents of Nirbhaya, the 23-year-old paramedical student who was gang-raped by six men on a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012, were present in parliament as the House debated the bill. The rape victim, whose real name was Jyoti, died in a Singapore hospital 13 days later.

Under the new law, juveniles between 16-18 years convicted in heinous crime face a maximum of seven years in jail. Juveniles who commit a lesser offence, too, may be tried as adults and will face three to seven years of jail term.

The early passage of the bill was made possible after the government managed to secure the support of Congress, Trinamool Congress and some other parties in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling alliance is in minority.

After the passage of the bill, Jyoti’s mother said she “was satisfied that the bill has been passed, but was unhappy that her daughter did not get justice”.

“I understand that a change in law will now not affect our case, but feel it is the least we can do for other women,” Asha Devi told Gulf News.

Jyoti’s father said the bill was a tribute to his child. “I am at least happy that the bill is passed and other such girls will get justice,” Badrinath told Gulf News.

Jyoti’s parents had been demanding a change in the law ever since the incident. While Jyoti’s other attackers have been sentenced to death, the youngest was released last Sunday after three years in a remand home. Now 20, he cannot not be tried in court for the brutal murder as he was a few months short of 18 at the time of the attack.

Child rights activist and Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi welcomed the passage of the bill as well.

“I am happy as the Juvenile Justice Bill is passed. I congratulate Parliamentarians across all political parties in prioritising children today,” Satyarthi told Gulf News.

Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said the government was rushing to pass the bill due to protests over the release of the convict. Emphasising the need to broaden the scope of the bill, he said “juveniles should be made to attend classes where they can be trained and made to realise their mistakes.”

Trinamool Congress lawmaker Derek O’Brien said he supported the bill and urged Parliament “not to wait for an ideal bill”. As the father of a 20-year-old daughter, he said, he would have probably shot a rapist rather than trust the laws of the country.

Left parties staged a walkout after the Speaker declined Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury’s request to send the Bill to a Parliament select committee for further examination.

“Today you are demanding the juvenile age to be reduced from 18 to 16. What if tomorrow a 15 year old commits a horrendous crime?” Yechury asked.