New Delhi, December 18: The juvenile rapist in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape will walk free on or before December 20, Delhi High Court declared on Friday. The verdict comes even as the victim Jyoti Singh’s mother had been demanding that the accused be kept in custody. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had even filed a plea before the court, asking the Court to rule against releasing the rapist, but his plea was rejected. The ruling has elicited a strong response from Nirbhaya’s parents and women rights commissions in Delhi. Also Read - Provide Gadgets, Internet Package to EWS Students For Online Learning: Delhi HC to Private, Govt Schools

The verdict that disregarded the hopes of the victim’s parents and other women’s rights activists, is likely to garner a lot of criticism from all the quarters. Swamy had filed a petition before the HC, challenging the release of the juvenile rapist, and the court said that it appreciated the points raised by him in court, but refused to stay the release. More details of the verdict are still awaited but the government is likely to make the convict sign a bond of good behaviour, which will prevent him from committing any more crimes, after he is released. Also Read: December 16 rape-case: Hope High Court’s decision favours society says victim’s mother Also Read - SSR Case: Rakul Preet Singh Moves Delhi High Court Against Defaming Her as Part of Media Trial

Also, the court issued notices to central and state governments on Swamy’s petition challenging the release. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for March 28, 2016. Meanwhile, Jyoti’s mother expressed extreme disappointment with the verdict even as Delhi Commission of Women said that it will appeal to the Chief Justice of High Court, the Supreme Court and the President to challenge the verdict. Also Read - Article 377 Scrapped But Same Sex Marriage Still Against Our Laws, Values: Centre to Delhi HC

HC refuses to stay release of 2012 gangrape case juvenile convict. — ANI (@ANI_news) December 18, 2015

2012 gang rape case: Juvenile convict to be released on or before 20th December. — ANI (@ANI_news) December 18, 2015

HC appreciates points raised by petitioner (S Swamy), issues notices to Union Govt & Delhi Govt. Next date of hearing on 28th March. — ANI (@ANI_news) December 18, 2015

Even after all our efforts, the juvenile convict will now be released-Nirbhaya’s mother pic.twitter.com/FuWTxZCcAL — ANI (@ANI_news) December 18, 2015