Mohammad Aman @ Amanat Ansari v. the State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Common judgment of Patna High Court (Justice Bibek Chaudhuri, 27-01-2025) dismissing 27+ criminal revisions filed by children in conflict with law seeking bail under Section 12 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 after JJB bail rejections and appellate dismissal by Special Judges, Children's Court. Offences span rape of minors (one victim aged 4 years), murder (S.302 IPC), NDPS Act offences (ganja transport), Arms Act violations, SC/ST Act offences, IT Act offence (S.67(A)). Key holdings: bail to CICL is rule and refusal is exception under presumption-of-innocence touchstone (¶365); bail not decided by reference to bailable/non-bailable CrPC classification (¶375); bail denial only in four specified circumstances (¶386); aggravated offences shocking societal conscience justify bail refusal here (¶391); impugned orders affirmed and revisions dismissed (¶392–395). Precedents cited: Lalu Kumar v. State of Bihar (2019(4) PLJR 833); Nand Kishore (in JC) v. State ((2006) 4 RCR (Crl.) 754); Juvenile X v. State of U.P. (2021 SCC Online All 1091).