A controversial Bill that provides for trying juveniles aged between 16 and 18 years for heinous crimes under laws for adults was cleared by the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

The government, arguing that the Bill had been framed to ensure no injustice was done to innocent children, finally used its numbers to squash all Opposition fears about possible misuse of the law.

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, who piloted the Bill, told the House that she had tried to be “pro-child” and to strike a “fine balance” between justice to victims and rights of children.

Later, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who was among the Opposition MPs who had moved against the government’s Bill tweeted: “Attempts2inject humanity into JuvenileJusticeBill crushed by Govt's brute majority in LokSabha. To kids, suit-boot sarkar=brute-jhoot sarkar.”

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill was passed after the government agreed to delete a controversial clause that said that if a minor commits a crime between the ages of 16 and 18, but is caught after he has turned 21, should be tried under the IPC and not juvenile laws.

The government moved at least 42 official amendments which were adopted.

The new law, Ms. Maneka Gandhi said, was intended to deter juveniles from committing crimes that would spoil their lives.

Referring to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics, she pointed out that in 2013, around 3,887 juveniles had allegedly committed heinous crimes.

Not just that, a recent Supreme Court order, she pointed out, had favoured a fresh look at the law in view of the growing number of juveniles involved in heinous crimes.