Amidst demands and counter demands on lowering of juvenile's age from 18 to 16 years, the Home Ministry has initiated discussions with a number of stake holders on the issue and looking into all provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act to take a view.

The Home Ministry has consulted the Ministries of Law, Women and Child Development, and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights during the last few days and sought their suggestions on the limit of juvenile's age.

"So far, these were only preliminary discussions and more consultations will take place in the coming weeks before taking any final view on the sensitive subject," a Home Ministry official said.

There have been demands from various quarters to reduce the age of juvenile's age following December 16 gang-rape of a girl in Delhi where one of the six accused was a juvenile, who may escape harsher punishment as he will be tried under Juvenile Justice Act.

However, the Home Ministry has learnt that a majority of child rights groups and various NGOs are against any move of lowering the juvenile's age.

"As any decision on lowering juvenile's age will have far reaching consequence, we are treading cautiously," the official said.