38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, September 05, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Juvenility plea valid even after final conviction: Supreme Court [Read Judgment]

By Saket Sourav      14 October, 2024 03:06 PM      0 Comments
Juvenility plea valid even after final conviction Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that a claim of juvenility can be raised at any stage, even after a conviction and sentence have attained finality. A division bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh made this significant observation while acquitting an accused in a murder case, who had filed a juvenility plea post-conviction.

Supreme Court Reaffirms Juvenility Claim Validity at Any Stage

The case involved Brijnandan @ Brajesh Sharma, who was convicted in a 2002 murder case under Sections 302, 307, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, read with Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act. After various legal proceedings, including an acquittal by the High Court that was later overturned by the Supreme Court, the accused filed a plea claiming he was a juvenile at the time of the offense.

The Court observed, “Although the application has been filed subsequent to the conviction ordered by this Court, we have regard to the judgment of this Court… that an application for claiming juvenility may be made even after the judgment and order of conviction and sentence has been granted against a person, which has attained finality.”

Sessions Court Inquiry Confirms Accused’s Juvenility Leading to Acquittal

Addressing the juvenility claim, the Supreme Court directed a Sessions Court inquiry, which confirmed the accused’s date of birth as October 4, 1984. This made him 17 years, 3 months, and 13 days old at the time of the offense on January 17, 2002. The inquiry involved the examination of multiple witnesses, including the accused’s mother and his school headmaster.

Despite the State’s objection regarding the belated claim and discrepancies in the accused’s name across various documents, the Court upheld the juvenility claim. The bench noted, “Bearing in mind the aforesaid judgments and the report submitted by the learned Sessions Judge, pursuant to the directions of this Court, we find that the date of birth of the applicant has been proved to be 04.10.1984.”

Based on these findings, the Court set aside the conviction and acquitted the accused.
[Read Judgment]



Share this article:

About:

Saket is a final-year law student at The National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam. He has...Read more

Follow:
Linkedin


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS

husbands-increased-income-warrants-higher-maintenance-for-wife-delhi-hc
Trending Judiciary
Husband’s Increased Income Warrants Higher Maintenance for Wife: Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

Delhi HC rules husband’s increased income and rising living costs justify higher maintenance for wife, enhancing it from ₹10,000 to ₹14,000.

04 September, 2025 12:50 PM
bar-on-pre-arrest-bail-to-operate-under-sc-st-act-sc
Trending Judiciary
Bar on pre arrest bail to operate under SC/ST Act: SC [Read Judgment]

SC rules anticipatory bail barred under SC/ST Act; courts can allow only if FIR lacks prima facie case of offence.

04 September, 2025 01:12 PM

TOP STORIES

words-spreads-faster-than-winds-sc-relies-on-testimony-of-neighbour-acquits-woman-in-dowry-harassment-case
Trending Judiciary
'Words spreads faster than winds,' SC relies on testimony of neighbour; acquits woman in dowry harassment case [Read Judgment]

SC acquits woman in dowry case, citing neighbour’s testimony: “Word spreads faster than wind” — conviction under Section 498A set aside.

30 August, 2025 05:54 PM
sc-refuses-to-entertain-plea-against-use-of-temples-land-funds-for-building-college-in-chennai
Trending Judiciary
SC refuses to entertain plea against use of temples' land, funds for building college in Chennai

SC refuses plea against use of Chennai temples’ land, ₹25 cr funds for building college, says using temple assets for education not improper.

30 August, 2025 06:01 PM
sc-halts-order-for-eviction-of-800-paki-hindus-living-in-national-capital
Trending Judiciary
SC halts order for eviction of 800 Paki Hindus living in national capital

SC stays eviction of 800 Pakistani Hindus at Majnu Ka Tilla, citing Article 21 right to shelter and dignity; seeks Centre, DDA response.

30 August, 2025 07:36 PM
sc-approves-ecs-move-to-accept-claims-or-objections-to-draft-electoral-rolls-beyond-sep-1
Trending Judiciary
SC approves EC's move to accept claims or objections to draft electoral rolls beyond Sep 1

SC allows EC to accept claims and objections to Bihar draft electoral rolls even after Sept 1 deadline, till last date of nominations.

01 September, 2025 02:54 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email