Allahabad High Court
X-Juvenile(Minor) vs State Of U.P. And 3 Others on 10 August, 2023
Bench: Subhash Chandra Sharma
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
?Neutral Citation No. - 2023:AHC:162074
Court No. - 80
Case :- CRIMINAL REVISION No. - 269 of 2023
Revisionist :- X-Juvenile(Minor)
Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others
Counsel for Revisionist :- Satya Prakash Singh
Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.
Hon'ble Subhash Chandra Sharma,J.
Heard learned counsel for revisionist, learned A.G.A. for State and perused the record.
The present criminal revision has been preferred by the revisionist through his mother under Section 102 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act-2015 (hereinafter referred to as "J.J. Act, 2015) to allow the present revision and set aside the judgment and order dated 9.6.2022 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge/Special Judge (POCSO Act), Basti in Criminal Appeal No. 18 of 2022 as well as order dated 5.5.2022 passed by Juvenile Justice Board, Basti. Further prayed to stay the operation of the aforesaid orders and to release the revisionist on bail in Case Crime No. 1060 of 2016, under Sections 376(2)Tha, 342, 504 IPC & Section 3(1)(XII), 3(2)V S.C./S.T. Act and Section 5/6 POCSO Act, Police Station Dubauliya, District Basti.
It is submitted by learned counsel for the revisionist that in this case, the delinquent was juvenile aged about 17 years at the time of alleged offence. As per version in the F.I.R. rape is said to be committed with the victim by the delinquent on 14.12.2016 and medical examination was done on 17.12.2016 but no any internal or external injury was found on the person of the victim to support the allegation of rape. Further submitted that F.I.R. was lodged after delay of three days without any explanation thereto. There is no any other evidence on record to show that rape was committed with her by the present delinquent. It is also submitted that after alleged incident the delinquent went away in relation to earn his livelihood that was the reason he could not appear before the learned court as a result charge sheet was filed in his absence. There is nothing adverse to the present delinquent in the report as submitted by the District Probation Officer. The provisions as contained under Section 12 of the Juvenile Justice Act had not been considered by the Juvenile Justice Board as well as appellate court while rejecting the appeal which cannot be said to be in conformity with the law. The delinquent is in Juvenile Care Home since 14.09.2020 i.e. more than three years and his psychology is being affected adversely, therefore, requested to set aside the order passed by the J.J. Board as well as appellate court and allow the criminal revision.
Learned A.G.A. opposed the aforesaid prayer.
Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, submissions made by learned counsel for the revisionist as well as learned A.G.A., the period of delinquent remained in jail, perusal of record, the provisions as contained u/s 12 Juvenile Justice Act and report submitted by the D.P.O. it appears that J.J. Board as well as the appellate court had not considered the relevant provisions and the material on record in well manner but passed the orders without applying their judicial mind. In this way, there appears ground in this revision and the orders passed by the Juvenile Justice Board as well as learned appellate court are liable to be set aside.
Accordingly, the orders passed by Juvenile Justice Board dated5.5.2022 and the appellate court dated9.6.2022 are, hereby, set aside and present Criminal Revision is hereby, allowed.
It is directed that delinquent/applicant be released on bail on executing personal bond by the revisionist (mother of the delinquent) and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Juvenile Justice Board concerned on following conditions:-
(i) The revisionist/mother will furnish an undertaking that upon release on bail the revisionist will not be permitted to go into contact or association with any known criminal or allowed to be exposed to any moral, physical, or psychological danger and further that themother will ensure that the juvenile will not repeat the offence.
(ii) The revisionist/mother will further furnish an undertaking to the effect that the juvenile will pursue his study at the appropriate level which he would be encouraged to do besides other constructive activities and not be allowed to waste his time in unproductive and excessive recreational pursuits.
(iii) Juvenile and the revisionist/mother will report to the Probation Officer on the first Monday of every calendar month.
(iv) The Probation Officer will keep a strict vigil on the activities of the juvenile and regularly draw up his social investigation report that would be submitted to the Juvenile Justice Board, concerned on such a periodical basis as the Juvenile Justice Board may determine.
Order Date :- 10.8.2023
A. Singh
