Debangana Ray
Published on: 14 August 2022, 10:30 IST
The Supreme Court granted a prison inmate relief after 19 years and ordered his release on bail. He was declared a juvenile nine years ago.
The bench consisting of Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice V Ramasubramanian stated that a juvenile cannot be detained beyond three years as per the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.
He had spent a difficult time in jail. Further, he was awarded a death sentence by the trial court in 2005 relating to a murder case in 2003, but it was commuted to imprisonment for life in 2012 by the President.
The order of the lower court was upheld by Allahabad HC and the Supreme Court. Being unaware of his rights, he did not question his juvenility.
When the Allahabad HC directed the Juvenile Justice Board to examine prisoners in jail in UP, it was only then his juvenility status was discovered.