38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, August 08, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Period of 3 months for preliminary assessment under JJ Act not mandatory: SC [Read Judgment]

By Jhanak Sharma      08 May, 2024 01:38 PM      0 Comments
Period of 3 months for preliminary assessment under JJ Act not mandatory SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has held that a period of three months granted for preliminary assessment to assess whether a child in conflict with law would be tried as adult or juvenile is not mandatory but is directory in nature only.

A bench of Justices C T Ravikumar and Rajesh Bindal said this period can be extended, for the reasons to be recorded in writing, by the Chief Judicial Magistrate or, as the case may be, by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.

The court also held the 'Childrens Court and Court of Sessions in Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the 2016 Rules should be read interchangeably.

Primarily, the jurisdiction vests in the Childrens Court, it said.

However, in the absence of constitution of such Childrens Court in the district, the power to be exercised under the Act is vested with the Court of Sessions, the bench said.

In its judgment on May 7, 2024, the court also directed in all the orders passed by the courts, tribunals, boards and the quasi-judicial authorities, the names of the Presiding Officer or the members who sign the orders should be mentioned. In case any identification number has been given, it can also be added, the bench said.

The Presiding Officers and Members, while passing the order should properly record presence of the parties and their counsels, the purpose for which the matter is being adjourned and the party on whose behalf the adjournment has been sought and granted, the court said.

"In many of the orders the presence of the parties and/or their counsels is not properly recorded. Further, it is not evident as to on whose behalf adjournment has been sought and granted. It is very relevant fact to be considered at different stages of the case and also to find out as to who was the party delaying the matter. At the time of grant of adjournment, it should specifically be mentioned as to the purpose therefor. This may be helpful in imposition of costs also, finally once we shift to the real terms costs," the bench said.

The court passed a number of directions with regard to practice and procedure in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, upon hearing senior advocates Sidharth Luthra and S Nagamuthu on behalf of a child in conflict with law from Karnataka.

The appellant through his mother challenged the Karnataka High Court's order which set aside the order to treat him as juvenile.

An FIR was lodged against the child in conflict with law for offences of rape and other offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

In the case, the Principal Magistrate of the Board passed an order on April 5, 2022 holding that as per preliminary assessment report and the social investigation report, the CCL is to be tried as an adult by the Childrens Court. The record was directed to be transferred to the Court concerned.

The apex court said the order passed by the Board as signed by the Principal Magistrate on April 05, 2022 was final.

"However, the order is subject to right of appeal of the aggrieved party. The appellant shall have the right of appeal against the order within a period of 10 days from today," the bench said.

The bench also directed a copy of its judgment be sent to all the Registrar Generals of High Courts for further circulation amongst the Judicial Officers and the Members of the Juvenile Justice Boards, the Directors of the National Judicial Academy and the State Judicial Academies.

In its decision, the court also held that appeal, under Section 101(2) of the Act against an order of the Juvenile Justice Board passed under Section 15 for preliminary assessment into heinous offences, can be filed within a period of 30 days.

"The appellate court can entertain the appeal after the expiry of the period, provided sufficient cause is shown. Endeavour has to be made to decide any such appeal filed within a period of 30 days," the bench said.

[Read Judgment]



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


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

in-house-procedure-had-legal-sanctity-sc-dismisses-justice-varmas-plea-against-recommendation-for-removal
Trending Judiciary
'In-house procedure had legal sanctity,' SC dismisses Justice Varma's plea against recommendation for removal

SC upholds in-house probe into Justice Varma, dismisses his plea against removal; says process is legally valid and judge’s conduct lacked credibility.

07 August, 2025 12:05 PM
sole-testimony-of-victim-even-without-medical-evidence-sufficient-to-uphold-rape-conviction-sc
Trending Judiciary
Sole testimony of victim even without medical evidence sufficient to uphold rape conviction: SC [Read Judgment]

SC: Victim’s sole testimony, even without medical evidence, sufficient to uphold rape conviction if found credible and consistent.

07 August, 2025 03:11 PM

TOP STORIES

bengaluru-court-convicts-ex-mp-prajwal-revanna-in-rape-case
Trending Judiciary
Bengaluru court convicts ex MP Prajwal Revanna in rape case

Bengaluru court convicts ex-MP Prajwal Revanna in rape case linked to explicit videos; one of four sexual abuse cases filed against him.

04 August, 2025 11:07 AM
sc-sets-aside-order-declaring-man-as-juvenile-on-basis-of-school-certificate
Trending Judiciary
SC sets aside order declaring man as juvenile on basis of school certificate [Read Judgment]

SC: School certificate from private school not valid proof of age, sets aside order declaring murder accused as juvenile.

04 August, 2025 11:24 AM
hp-may-vanish-in-thin-air-god-forbid-sc-on-ecological-imbalance-in-himachal-pradesh
Trending Judiciary
‘HP may vanish in thin air, God forbid', SC on ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh [Read Order]

SC warns HP may vanish due to ecological imbalance; seeks state’s action plan amid rising disasters, deforestation, and climate change threats.

04 August, 2025 11:31 AM
sc-grants-4-weeks-time-to-centre-to-frame-guidelines
Trending Judiciary
SC grants 4 weeks time to Centre to frame guidelines to ensure pedestrians right to use footpath

SC gives Centre 4 weeks to frame guidelines ensuring pedestrians’ right to obstruction-free, accessible footpaths under Article 21.

04 August, 2025 11:41 AM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email