Procedure in case of commission of offence by child and determination of age by Special Court
Full Text
(1) Where any offence under this Act is committed by a child, such child shall be dealt with under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of 2016).
(2) If any question arises in any proceeding before the Special Court whether a person is a child or not, such question shall be determined by the Special Court after satisfying itself about the age of such person and it shall record in writing its reasons for such determination.
(3) No order made by the Special Court shall be deemed to be invalid merely by any subsequent proof that the age of a person as determined by it under sub-section (2) was not the correct age of that person.
Plain English Summary
Provides that child offenders must be tried exclusively under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, empowers Special Courts to determine age with recorded reasons, and shields court orders from invalidation due to subsequent age disputes.
Key Legal Elements
- Child in conflict with law must be dealt with strictly under Juvenile Justice Act 2015
- Special Court has jurisdiction to determine the question of age of any person
- Mandatory requirement to record written reasons for age determination
- Immunity of Special Court orders from invalidation on subsequent proof of age disparity
Practical Note
Applies both when the accused claims juvenility (requiring transfer to the Juvenile Justice Board) and when the victim age is contested. Sub-section (3) protects convictions and proceedings from being automatically voided if fresh age evidence emerges post-determination.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां इस अधिनियम के अधीन कोई अपराध किसी बालक द्वारा किया जाता है, वहां ऐसे बालक के साथ किशोर न्याय (बालकों की देखरेख और संरक्षण) अधिनियम, 2015 (2016 का 2) के उपबंधों के अधीन कार्रवाई की जाएगी।
(2) यदि विशेष न्यायालय के समक्ष किसी कार्यवाही में यह प्रश्न उठता है कि कोई व्यक्ति बालक है या नहीं, तो ऐसे प्रश्न का अवधारण विशेष न्यायालय द्वारा ऐसे व्यक्ति की आयु के बारे में अपना समाधान करने के पश्चात् किया जाएगा और वह ऐसे अवधारण के लिए अपने कारणों को लिखित रूप में दर्ज करेगा।
(3) विशेष न्यायालय द्वारा किया गया कोई भी आदेश केवल इस पश्चात्वर्ती साक्ष्य के आधार पर अमान्य नहीं समझा जाएगा कि उपधारा (2) के अधीन उसके द्वारा अवधारित व्यक्ति की आयु उस व्यक्ति की सही आयु नहीं थी।