In a striking turn of events, the Uttarakhand High Court has directed the immediate release of a convict who had spent 13 years in prison for a murder case, after it was determined that he was a minor at the time the crime was committed. The division bench of Justices Ravindra Maithani and Ashish Naithani held that the life imprisonment sentence imposed on him was legally invalid under juvenile law provisions, given his age at the time of the offense.

The case dates back to 2003, when the accused was involved in a murder and attempted robbery in Roorkee. A sessions court convicted him for the crime, and the high court initially upheld the conviction in 2013. Later, the Supreme Court also confirmed the verdict, resulting in the convict being incarcerated for over a decade.

In 2021, while still in prison, the convict submitted an application claiming that he was a minor at the time of the crime. Recognizing the seriousness of this claim, the Uttarakhand High Court directed the Registrar to conduct a thorough investigation into his age.

The Registrar’s inquiry involved examining school records, student registers, and statements from witnesses who could confirm the convict’s date of birth. The investigation concluded that the convict was born on May 22, 1988, making him 15 years and one month old at the time of the incident.

Citing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, the court emphasized that a claim of being a juvenile can be raised at any stage, even after a trial has concluded or a sentence has been served. Since juveniles cannot be sentenced to life imprisonment and cannot be kept in a reformatory for more than three years, the bench concluded that the convict had already served a sentence far exceeding the permissible period for a minor.

While the court acknowledged that the convict’s role in the crime mirrored that of the other accused, it clarified that the legal protections afforded to juveniles could not be overlooked. The bench stated that the conviction itself would be maintained, but the sentence could not legally continue, thereby granting him immediate release.

The case underscores the critical importance of accurate age verification in criminal proceedings and highlights the judiciary’s commitment to adhering to juvenile justice laws, even retroactively. Legal experts note that the ruling sets an important precedent, demonstrating that age-related claims of juvenility are valid at any stage of judicial proceedings and cannot be disregarded, irrespective of the duration of incarceration.

The release of the convict after 13 years brings attention to systemic issues related to age determination in criminal cases and emphasizes the need for timely verification to prevent prolonged detention of minors under adult sentences. The decision also reflects the courts’ responsibility to ensure that sentences align with the principles of justice as outlined under the Juvenile Justice Act.

The Uttarakhand High Court’s order has sparked discussions among legal circles and human rights organizations, highlighting the delicate balance between delivering justice to victims and safeguarding the rights of juvenile offenders. This case serves as a reminder that the justice system must rigorously evaluate age claims and ensure that juvenile offenders are treated in accordance with the law, regardless of the passage of time.

The immediate release is expected to be executed by the local authorities, bringing an end to the convict’s prolonged imprisonment and reaffirming the court’s role in upholding statutory protections for minors.