From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: Liberty after 17 years and 3 days of jail to a U.P. juvenile for a murder in a trial by the Maharajganj session judge.
Sanjay Patel was convicted and sentenced to life by the judge under the offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The Allahabad High Court also dismissed his application in August 2009.
He finally moved the Supreme Court asserting that his date of birth is May 16, 1986 and so he is a juvenile who cannot be punished. On the court’s order, the Juvenile Justice Board of Maharajganj held on March 4 held that he was a juvenile on the date of crime as his birthdate was correct as certified in various documents such as high school results declared by the Board of High School and Intermediate Education. The board’s order has not been challenged.
A Bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Abhay S Oka set him free on Wednesday if not required to be detained since it will be unjust to send him to the Juvenile Justice Board after already undergoing a long sentence.
