AIROnline 2025 SC 685

Supreme Court Of India

(From : Allahabad)*

Hon'ble Judge(s): Pankaj Mithal, Ahsanuddin Amanullah , JJ

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act (56 of 2000) , S.110— Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules (2007) , R.12— Evidence Act (1 of 1872) , S.35, S.74— Declaration as juvenile - Legality - Evidentiary value of public documents - Offence of murder - As no 'matriculation or equivalent certificates' were available , 'date of birth certificate from school first attended' was accepted as conclusive proof of date of birth - However, said certificate could not have been relied on since Headmaster had stated that birth-date was noted as per an oral representation by father of accused - Said school not being a Government School, records maintained by it would not be 'public documents' - Family register and voters' list on record were public documents - Said documents as well as Medical report indicated that accused was major - Declaration of accused as juvenile based on school certificates was improper Criminal Revision No.2144/2015 dated 29.03.2016 (All)-Reversed (Para 16 18 21 23 25 26) .....