The Supreme Court of India has acquitted Brijnandan, sentenced to life for murder, after confirming he was a minor at the time of the crime. This ruling emphasizes that claims of juvenility can be made at any stage of legal proceedings, reinforcing juvenile rights and ensuring their protection under Indian law.
New Delhi: In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has acquitted Brijnandan, a man previously sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, after determining he was a minor at the time of the crime. This decision, rendered two years after his initial conviction, underscores the court’s commitment to juvenile justice and clarifies that individuals can assert their juvenility at any stage of the criminal proceedings, even post-conviction.
The bench, comprised of Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh, emphasized that the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 allow for a plea of juvenility to be raised at any time. This landmark ruling highlights that juvenile rights are protected under Indian law, regardless of when the issue is brought forward.
The court explicitly stated that the finality of a judgment does not prevent an individual from claiming their status as a juvenile, emphasizing that this right is not subject to waiver due to procedural delays.
The Bench said,
“An application for claiming juvenility may be made even after the judgment and order of conviction and sentence has been granted against a person and it has attained finality,”
Brijnandan’s case dates back to 2002 when he was convicted for a murder committed when he was only 17 years old. After his conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2022, he filed an application claiming he was a minor at the time of the offence. His assertions were bolstered by school records indicating he was 17 during the crime.
Following this claim, the Supreme Court ordered a detailed inquiry by a special judge in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, which confirmed Brijnandan’s date of birth as October 4, 1984.
The inquiry findings, along with witness statements from his mother and school authorities, corroborated his claim of juvenility. The Supreme Court rejected objections from the state government regarding the timeliness of his plea, reinforcing that juvenile safeguards cannot be compromised, even if the claim arises after a conviction.
Citing Section 94 of the Juvenile Justice Act, the court ruled that any evidence suggesting juvenility requires a thorough re-evaluation of the case, irrespective of when the claim is presented.
The Court mentioned,
“The claim of juvenility made by the applicant, who was arrayed as accused no. 3, is upheld, and the conviction as recorded against him by this Court is set aside, and he stands acquitted,”
This pivotal judgment not only sets a precedent for future cases but also affirms the principle that juvenile rights are paramount in the Indian legal system. As the Supreme Court reinforces the notion that juvenility can be claimed at any stage, it paves the way for a more compassionate approach to juvenile offenders, ensuring their rights are upheld throughout the legal process.
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