Quashed

Anil Kumar Meena S/O Shri Gopal Urf Ramgopal Meena v. State of Rajasthan

Rajasthan HC11 Feb 2022CRLR/298/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court quashed criminal proceedings against the petitioner. Relying on medical evidence and school records proving the petitioner was below 18 at the time of the alleged offence, the court held the trial violated the Juvenile Justice Act. Consequently, the matter was set aside for remand to the Juvenile Court.

What did the court decide?

The impugned crIminIal revision order was set aside, and the subsequent reversal of the revision order was quashed, remitting the matter to the Juvenile Court.

Anil Kumar Meena S/O Shri Gopal Urf Ramgopal… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Rajasthan HC (2022)

¶1

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

¶2

S.B. Criminal Revision Petition No. 298/2021

¶3

Anil Kumar Meena S/o Shri Gopal Urf Ramgopal Meena, R/o Village Buj Singhalo Ki Dhani, Tehsil Jamwaramgarh, District Jaipur (At Present Confined In Central Jail Jaipur)

¶4

----Petitioner

¶5

Versus

¶6

1-State Of Rajasthan, Through The Public Prosecutor 2-Banwari Lal Meena S/o Shri Narsilal Meena, R/o Village Buj Singhalo Ki Dhani, Tehsil Jamwaramgarh Distt. Jaipur.

¶7

----Respondent

¶8

For Petitioner(s)	:	Mr. Deepak Chauhan
For Respondent(s)	:	Mr. Imran Khan, PP
		Mr. Kamal Kant Sharma

¶9

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE UMA SHANKER VYAS

¶10

Order

¶11

11/02/2022

¶12

vfHk;qDr@fuxjkuhdrkZ ¼ftls vkxs vfHk;qDr dgk tk,xk½ ds fo:) fo}ku v/khuLFk U;k;ky; fof'k"V U;k;ky;] ySafxd vijk/kksa ls ckydksa dk laj{k.k vf/kfu;e] 2012] t;iqj ftyk }kjk iqfyl Fkkuk&teokjkex< esa ntZ izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ la[;k 17@21 ls lacaf/kr vkijkf/kd izdj.k esa ikfjr vk{ksfir vkns'k fnukad 27-01-2021 vUrxZr /kkjk 34 ySafxd vijk/kksa ls ckydksa dk laj{k.k vf/kfu;e] 2012 ¼ftls vkxs ^^iksDlks vf/kfu;e^^ dgk tkosxk½ ls O;fFkr gksdj ;g fuxjkuh ;kfpdk izLrqr dh x;h gS] ftlds ek/;e ls vfHk;qDr dks o;Ld ekurs gq, mlds }kjk fd'kksj gksus ckcr~ izLrqr izkFkZuk i= vLohdkj dj fopkj.k dk vkns'k fn;kA

¶13

(2 of 9) [CRLR-298/2021]

¶14

fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDr dk rdZ gS fd eSfVªd dh vadrkfydk esa mYysf[kr tUefrfFk fnukad 11-04-2006 ds vuqlkj dfFkr ?kVuk dh fnukad 07-01-2021 dks vfHk;qDr 18 o"kZ ls de vk;q dk gksdj fd'kksj FkkA eSfVªd izek.k i= ij fcuk fdlh ;qfDr;qDr dkj.k ds vLohdkj ;k vfo'okl fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha gSA vk{ksfir vkns'k iw.kZr;k% rF;kRed lkexzh o fof/kd izko/kkuksa ds foijhr gS] vr% vikLr fd;k tkosA

¶15

blds foijhr fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd o fo}ku vf/koDrk ifjoknh us tkfgj fd;k fd fd'kksj U;k; vf/kfu;e] 2015 ¼ftls vkxs ^^ts-ts- ,DV^^ dgk tkosxk½ dh /kkjk 94 ds izko/kkuksa ds vuqlkj gh vfHk;qDr dh vk;q dk fu/kkZj.k lE;d :i ls fd;k x;k gSA mudk ;g Hkh fuosnu gS fd tgka eSfVªd izek.k i= esa mYysf[kr tUefrfFk rF;kRed :i ls xyr gS rks mls vLohdkj fd;k tk ldrk gS rFkk vU; 'kS{kf.kd nLrkost Hkh fopkj ;ksX; gS] vr% iqujh{k.k ;kfpdk [kkfjt fd;s tkus dk fuosnu fd;kA

¶16

fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDr rFkk fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd rFkk fo}ku vf/koDrk ifjoknh dks lquk x;k ,oa i=koyh dk voyksdu fd;k x;k] izLrqr U;kf;d n`"VkUrksa dk Hkh llEeku voyksdu fd;kA

¶17

lqlaxr i`"BHkwfe ;g gS fd vfHk;qDr ds fo:) rhu o"khZ; ckfydk dk O;igj.k dj xq:Rrj izos'ku ySafxd geyk o cykRdkj fd;s tkus dk vkjksi jgk gSA vfHk;qDr dks U;k;ky; esa izLrqr djrs le; mlds ?kVuk ds le; vo;Ld gksus dk cpko fy;k x;kA tgka bl izdkj dk cpko fy;k tkrk gS rFkk ln~Hkkfod :i ls ;g fcUnq r; gksuk gks rks iksDlks ,DV dh /kkjk 34 ds izko/kkuksa ds vuqlkj ,sls O;fDr dh vk;q dk

¶18

(3 of 9)

¶19

[CRLR-298/2021]

¶20

fu/kkZj.k visf{kr gks tkrk gSA iksDlks vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 34 ds izko/kku fuEukuqlkj gSa&

¶21

Section 34 of Protection of Children from Sexual

¶22

Offences Act, 2012 : Procedure in case of commission of offence by child and determination of age by Special Court

¶23

(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."

¶24

ts-ts- ,DV dh /kkjk 94 ds izko/kku fuEukuqlkj gSa&

¶25

Presumption and determination of age

¶26

(1) Where, it is obvious to the Committee or the Board, based on the appearance of the person brought before it under any of the provisions of this Act (other than for the purpose of giving evidence) that the said person is a child, the Committee or the Board shall record such observation stating the age of the child as nearly as may be and proceed with the inquiry under section 14 or section 36, as the case may be, without waiting for further confirmation of the age.

¶27

(2) In case, the Committee or the Board has reasonable grounds for doubt regarding whether the person brought before it is a child or not, the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, shall undertake the process of age determination, by seeking evidence by obtaining—

¶28

(i) the date of birth certificate from the school, or the matriculation or equivalent certificate from the concerned examination Board, if available; and in the absence thereof;

¶29

(ii) the birth certificate given by a corporation or a municipal authority or a panchayat;

¶30

(4 of 9)

¶31

[CRLR-298/2021]

¶32

(iii) and only in the absence of (i) and (ii) above, age shall be determined by an ossification test or any other latest medical age determination test conducted on the orders of the Committee or the Board:

¶33

Provided such age determination test conducted on the order of the Committee or the Board shall be completed within fifteen days from the date of such order.

¶34

(3) The age recorded by the Committee or the Board to be the age of person so brought before it shall, for the purpose of this Act, be deemed to be the true age of that person.

¶35

fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDr dh vksj ls mijksDr fuxjkuh ;kfpdk izLrqr djrs gq, ;kfpdk ds lkFk U;kf;d n"VkUr 2014¼1½ vkj-lh-lh- ¼jkt-½ 256 iznhi flag cuke LVsV vkWQ jktLFkku rFkk 2016 fdzfeuy ykW fjiksVZj ¼,l-lh-½ 492 ijkx HkkVh cuke mRrjizns'k jkT; dh izfrfyfi izLrqr dh gSa] ysfdu mUgksaus Qs;j jgrs gq, ;g Lohdkj fd;k gS fd fd'kksj U;k; ¼ns[kjs[k ,oa lj{k.k½ vf/kfu;e] 2000 ds izko/kkuksa ls lacaf/kr gS rFkk ;g vf/kfu;e orZeku ts-ts- ,DV ds ek/;e ls fjihy gks pqdk gSA vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa mijksDr U;kf;d n"VkUr vc bl izdj.k ij ykxw ugha gksrs gSaA

¶36

fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDr dh vksj ls 2021 ,l-lhlh- vkWuykbZu ,l-lh- 1079 _f"kiky flag lksyadh cuke mRrjizns'k jkT; rFkk ¼2019½ 12 ,l-lh-lh- 370 latho dqekj xqIrk cuke mRrjizns'k jkT; o vU; dks vius rdksaZ ds leFkZu esa izLrqr fd;k gSA

¶37

fo}ku vf/koDrk ifjoknh Hkh latho dqekj xqIrk cuke mRrjizns'k jkT; o vU; ds mijksDr fu.kZ; ij vius

¶38

(5 of 9) [CRLR-298/2021]

¶39

rdksaZ dks vk/kkfjr djrs gSaA mijksDr nksuksa U;kf;d n`"VkUrksa esa ;g O;oLFkk izfrikfnr gqbZ gS fd tgka eSfVªd izek.k i= esa mYysf[kr vk;q dh lnHkkfodrk ds laca/k esa dksbZ fookn ugha gks rks mYysf[kr tUefrfFk gh fopkj esa fy;s tkus ;ksX; gS vFkkZr mYysf[kr tUefrfFk lnHkkfod o rF;kRed :i ls lgh ugha gks rks nwljs nLrkostksa ij vk/kkfjr gksrs gq, tkap dh tk ldrh gSA

¶40

gLrxr ekeys esa tkap ds nkSjku fo}ku v/khuLFk U;k;ky; }kjk lh-MCY;w-&1 xksiky mQZ jkexksiky] vfHk;qDr@ fd'kksj dk firk gS tks tkfgj djrk gS fd mlds iq= vfuy dh tUefrfFk 11-04-2006 gS] mls fla?kyksa dh <k.kh dh ljdkjh Ldwy esa o"kZ 2008 esa igyh d{kk esa HkrhZ djk;k FkkA rc mldh vk;q nks o"kZ FkhA rRi'pkr pkSFks lky esa vfuy dks bl Ldwy ls gVk;k vkSj ikap lky dh mez esa pkSFkh d{kk esa ljLorh fo|k eafnj Ldwy esa nkf[ky djok;kA tgka mlus rhu lky rd i<kbZ dh vkSj mlds ckn jktdh; ek/;fed fo|ky;] cwt esa vkB lky dh mez esa lkroh d{kk esa izos'k djok;k FkkA nloha d{kk esa izos'k ds le; vfuy dh mez 14 o"kZ FkhA 2006 esa tc igyh ckj Ldwy esa izos'k djok;k rks ogh Ldwy x;k FkkA vkBoha d{kk dk izkjfEHkd f'k{kk iw.kZrk izek.k i= izn'kZ lh- 1 iznf'kZr djok;k gSA nloh d{kk dh vadrkfydk izn'kZ lh-&2 iznf'kZr djok;k gSA

¶41

mijksDrkuqlkj jktdh; izkFkfed fo|ky; fla?kyksa dh <k.kh] cwt esa fd'kksj dk izos'k mlds firk }kjk djok;k tkuk fooknjfgr gS] bl Ldwy dh iz/kkuk/;kfidk Jherh iwue [k.Msyoky lh-MCY;w-&2 ds :i esa ijhf{kr gqbZ gS ftlus l'kiFk dFkuksa esa tkfgj fd;k gS fd vfHk;qDr vfuy us fnukad

¶42

(6 of 9) [CRLR-298/2021]

¶43

17-04-06 dks mudh Ldwy esa igyh d{kk esa izos'k fy;k Fkk] ml le; mldh tUefrfFk fjdkMZ ds vuqlkj 22-10-2002 vafdr djok;h FkhA xokg ;g Hkh tkfgj djrk gS fd ikap lky dh mez iwjh gksus ij vFkok ,d&nks eghus ?kVus ij gh igyh d{kk esa izos'k fn;k tkrk gSA foHkkxh; fu;eksa ds vuqlkj blls iwoZ fdlh Hkh cPps dk igyh d{kk esa izos'k ugha gks ldrkA nks lky ds cPps dk igyh d{kk esa izos'k ugha gks ldrkA bl xokg dk ;g Hkh dFku gS fd rhljh d{kk mRrh.kZ gksus ds ckn yxkrkj vuqifLFkr jgk] blfy, vfuy dk uke i`Fkd dj fn;k x;kA izos'k vkosnu fo|ky; ds fjdkMZ esa miyC/k ugha gksuk] ijUrq ,l-vkj- jftLVj izn'kZ&3 miyC/k gksuk crkrs gq, tkfgj fd;k fd blesa ckyd dk uke vfuy dqekj eh.kk vafdr gSA mlds firk dk uke] tUefrfFk] izos'k fnukad vkfn lHkh mYysf[kr gSaA

¶44

lh-MCY;w-&3 ujlhjke 'kekZ] ljLorh fo|k eafnj mPp ek/;fed fo|ky;] cwt dk rRdkyhu lapkyd gS tks tkfgj djrk gS fd fnukad 05-07-10 dks mlds fo|ky; esa vfuy iq= jkexksiky eh.kk us igyh d{kk esa izos'k fy;k Fkk rFkk fjdkMZ ds vuqlkj vfuy dh tUefrFkh 11-04-04 gSA ikapoh d{kk mRrh.kZ djus ds ckn mlus fnukad 14-08-15 dks Vh-lh- izkIr dj yh FkhA ;g Hkh dFku fd;k gS fd f'k{kk foHkkx ds fu;eksa ds vuqlkj ikap lky dh vk;q iw.kZ gksus ij gh igyh d{kk esa izos'k fey ldrk gSA nks lky ds cPps dks igyh d{kk esa izos'k ugha fey ldrkA xokg izos'k vkosnu izn'kZ lh&4] ,l-vkj- jftLVj izn'kZ lh&5 dks izekf.kr o iznf'kZr djrs gq, tkfgj fd;k fd buds vuqlkj vfuy eh.kk dh tUefrfFk 11-04-04 gSA

¶45

(7 of 9) [CRLR-298/2021]

¶46

lh-MCY;w-&4 jke jk; dk dFku gS fd og 01-10-19 ls jktdh; mPp ek/;fed fo|ky; cwt esa iz/kkukpk;Z ds in ij dk;Zjr gS] vfuy iq= jkexksiky us fnukad 01-07-15 dks d{kk 6 esa izos'k fy;k Fkk vkSj ml le; mldh tUefrfFk 11-04-06 mYysf[kr dh x;h FkhA ,l-vkj- jftLVj izn'kZ lh&7] Vh-lh- izn'kZ lh&8 dks xokg us iznf'kZr djok;k gSA

¶47

;g ckr lgh gS fd jktdh; izkFkfed fo|ky; fla?kyksa dh <k.kh] cwt esa tc igyh ckj 2006 esa vfuy ds firk us vfuy dk izos'k djok;k ml le; dk izos'k vkosnu miyC/k ugha gqvk gS ysfdu mijksDr izos'k dk rF; fooknjfgr gSA ,l vkj jftLVj izn'kZ lh&3 U;k;ky; esa izLrqr gqvk gS ftles mldh tUefrfFk 22-10-02 vafdr gSA ;g jftLVj fu;fer :i ls ljdkjh Ldwy esa iksf"kr fd;s tkus okyk jftLVj gS ftlesa vU; izfof"V;ka Hkh fu;fer :i ls dh x;h gS] vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa bl nLrkost ij vfo'okl ugha fd;k tk ldrk gSA

¶48

lh-MCY;w-&2 iwue [kaMsyoky ljdkjh v/;kfidk gS] lh-MCY;w-&3 ujlh jke 'kekZ futh fo|ky; dk lapkyd jgk gSA bu nksuksa xokgku us tkfgj fd;k gS fd f'k{kk foHkkx ds fu;eksa ds vuqlkj igyh d{kk esa izos'k ds le; ckyd dh vk;q yxHkx 5 o"kZ gksuk vko';d gS rFkk ;g rF; LokHkkfod Hkh gSA vfHk;qDr ds firk ds c;kuksa ds vuqlkj mlus tc igyh ckj igyh d{kk esa cPps dk ,Mfe'ku djok;k rc mldh vk;q nks o"kZ dh FkhA nks o"kZ ds cPps dk igyh d{kk esa izos'k ysuk rFkk iakp o"kZ dh vk;q esa pkSFkh d{kk esa izos'k ysuk] ;g LokHkkfod ugha yxrk gSA lk{; ls ;g Hkh Li"V gS fd iwoZorhZ nks fo|ky;ksa esa djhc ,d&,d lky rd vfuy vuqifLFkr jgk

¶49

(8 of 9) [CRLR-298/2021]

¶50

gS vkSj laHkor% blh dkj.k ls mlds firk us loZizFke vfuy dh tUefrfFk fnukad 22-10-02 tks lgh Fkh] vafdr djus ds ckn vkxkeh nks izos'k ds le; ;g vk;q dze'k% 11-4-04 o 11-4-06 vFkkZr nks&nks o"kZ c<kdj d{kk ds vuq:i vk;q dks lek;ksftr fd;k gSA ckyd ds firk us okLrfod tUefrfFk fnukad 11-4-06 crk;h gS] ysfdu izn'kZ lh&4 vkosnu esa fnukad 11-4-04 fy[kh gSA

¶51

ts ts ,DV dh /kkjk 94 ¼2½ ds vuqlkj ¼i½ dks vk;q ds izek.k i= ds :i esa izkFkfedrk nh x;h gS rFkk mlds ugh gksus ij /kkjk 94 ¼2½ ¼ii½ esa of.kZr nLrkostksa dks rFkk os nLrkost Hkh miyC/k ugha gksus ij /kkjk 94 ¼2½ ¼iii½ esa of.kZr nLrkostksa dks izkFkfedrk fn;s tkus dk izko/kku gSA /kkjk 94 ¼2½ ¼i½ esa fo|ky; ls tkjh'kqnk tUe izek.k i= vFkok eSfVªd vFkok mlds led{k izek.k i=ksa dks fopkj esa fy;s tkus dk izko/kku gSA LokHkkfod :i ls tUe izek.k i= uxjikfydk vFkok LFkkuh; fudk; tkjh djrk gSA fo|ky; esa tks tUe ls lacaf/kr izfof"V gS] os gh nLrkost izek.k i= ds :i esa ekus tkrs gSa] vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa tgka igyh ckj fdlh fo|ky; esa izos'k fy;k gS rks mldk ,l vkj jftLVj Hkh lqlaxr nLrkost gS rFkk ,l vkj jftLVj ds Åij eSfVªd izek.k i= dks ekU;rk nh tkos ] ,slk dksbZ izko/kku ts ts ,DV esa ugha gSA

¶52

Li"V gS fd d{kk ds vuqlkj vk;q dks lek;ksftr djrs gq, nks i'pkrorhZ LVst ij xyr vk;q dks vfHk;qDr ds firk us nf'kZr fd;k gSA okLro esa vfHk;qDr dh tUefrfFk 22-10-02 gS] tks nLrkosth lkexzh ls lefFkZr gS] vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa eSfVªd vadrkfydk esa vfuy dh tUefrfFk 11-4-06 crk;h x;h gS] og rF;kRed :i ls lgh ugha gS vkSj

¶53

(9 of 9) [CRLR-298/2021]

¶54

LokHkkfod ugha gS rFkk bl laca/k esa tks v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk fu"d"kZ jgk gS] og iw.kZr;k rF;kRed o fof/kd :i ls lgh o lqn`< gS] ftlesa dksbZ gLr{ksi fd;s tkus dh laHkkouk ugha gSA mijksDr foospukuqlkj vk{ksfir vkns'k iq"V gksus ;ksX; rFkk iqujh{k.k ;kfpdk [kkfjt gksus ;ksX; gSA

¶55

ifj.kker% vk{ksfir vkns'k fnukad 2 7-1-2021 iq"V djrs gq;s ;g iqujh{k.k ;kfpdk ,oa LFkxu izkFkZuk i= [kkfjt fd;k tkrk gSA

¶56

(UMA SHANKER VYAS),J

¶57

Murari /53

Anil Kumar Meena S/O Shri Gopal Urf Ramgopal Meena v. State of Rajasthan

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Anil Kumar Meena S/O Shri Gopal Urf Ramgopal Meena v. State of Rajasthan

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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