Murder is Heinous Offence under JJ Act; Board Must Holistically Evaluate All Material: SC
The Supreme Court upheld the Patna High Court's judgment directing that a child in conflict with law, aged above 16 years, be tried as an adult for murder and related offences under sections 302, 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
A Division Bench held that murder under Section 302 IPC qualifies as a "heinous offence" under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, as it carries life imprisonment as minimum punishment. The Court clarified that Section 21 of the JJ Act, which modifies how punishment is served by children, does not affect the classification of offences.
The Court directed Juvenile Justice Boards to independently and holistically evaluate expert opinions, social reports, witness statements, and all relevant circumstances during preliminary assessment under Section 15 of the JJ Act. No single piece of evidence should exclusively determine the outcome. Sessions Courts may also seek assistance from psychologists or medical specialists when case facts warrant it.
