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2019 DIGILAW 630 (GAU)

Jamuna Gour v. State of Assam

2019-05-20

ACHINTYA MALLA BUJOR BARUA, MIR ALFAZ ALI

body2019
JUDGMENT : ACHINTYA MALLA BUJOR BARUA, J. 1. Heard Mr. K.A. Mazumdar, learned counsel for the applicants. Also heard Ms. S. Jahan, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State authorities as well as Ms. Meghali Barman, who has assisted the Court as Amicus Curiae. 2. A question of juvenility has been raised in respect of appellants No. 2 and 3, namely, Achawal @ Achal Gaur and Barkalika Gaur respectively. Accordingly by the order dated 13.02.2019 in IA(Crl.) No. 677/2019 in connection with Crl.A No. 187/2014, an enquiry was required to be made by the learned Sessions Judge, Hailakandi on the question as to whether the appellants No. 2 and 3 were juveniles at the time when the occurrence took place. Consequent to such order, a report dated 09.05.2019 has been submitted by the learned Sessions Judge, Hailakandi with reference to Misc. Enquiry Proceeding No. 2/2019 by which both the appellants were held to be juveniles as on 12.01.2006 when the occurrence took place. 3. Section 2(13) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (for short, JJ Act of 2015) defines 'child in conflict with law' to mean a child who is alleged or found to have committed an offence and who has not completed eighteen years of age on the date of commission of such offence. 4. According to the definition of child in conflict with law, the appellants No. 2 and 3 having not completed the age of 18 years on 12.01.2006 when the occurrence took place and they having been alleged to have committed the offence related to the occurrence, would be child in conflict with law. 5. Section 1(4) of the JJ Act of 2015, inter alia, provides that notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the provisions of the Act shall apply to all matters concerning children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law, including that of apprehension, detention, prosecution, penalty or imprisonment etc. 5. Section 1(4) of the JJ Act of 2015, inter alia, provides that notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the provisions of the Act shall apply to all matters concerning children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law, including that of apprehension, detention, prosecution, penalty or imprisonment etc. Consequent thereto, it having been determined that the appellants No. 2 and 3 were juveniles when the occurrence took place and they being children in conflict with law, by virtue of the provisions of Section 1(4) of the JJ Act, 2015, henceforth, the provisions of the JJ Act of 2015 would only be applicable in respect of the further proceedings pertaining to the allegations made against the appellants No. 2 and 3. We have taken note that Section 1(4) begins with a non-obstante clause that notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the provisions of the JJ Act of 2015 alone shall apply. In other words, the provisions of no other Act henceforth shall apply in respect of the proceedings to be initiated/continued against the present appellants No. 2 and 3, including that of the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. We also take note of the provisions of Section 9 of the JJ Act of 2015, more particularly, the proviso to Section 9(2) which inter alia provides that the claim of juvenility may be raised before any Court and it shall be recognized at any stage even after final disposal of the case and such claim shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the JJ Act of 2015 and the Rules framed thereunder even if the persons concerned have ceased to be a child on or before the date of commencement of the Act. 6. Section 9(2) of the JJ Act of 2015 including its proviso is as follows: 9(2). 6. Section 9(2) of the JJ Act of 2015 including its proviso is as follows: 9(2). In case a person alleged to have committed an offence claims before a court other than a Board, that the person is a child or was a child on the date of commission of the offence, or if the court itself is of the opinion that the person was a child on the date of commission of the offence, the said court shall make an inquiry, take such evidence as may be necessary (but not an affidavit) to determine the age of such person, and shall record a finding on the matter, stating the age of the person as nearly as may be: Provided that such a claim may be raised before any court and it shall be recognized at any stage, even after final disposal of the case, and such a claim shall be determined in accordance with the provisions contained in this Act and the rules made there under even if the person has ceased to be a child on or before the date of commencement of this Act. 7. The interpretation of the proviso to Section 9(2) would be that the claim of juvenility can be raised at any stage of the proceeding, including also that of the appellate stage and once such claim is made and an enquiry thereof had been conducted under Section 9(2) and there is a recorded finding that the concerned child is/was a juvenile at the time of occurrence of the offence, such claim thereafter shall be determined and proceeded only in accordance with the provisions of the JJ Act of 2015. The provisions of the proviso to Section 9(2) in our view is in conformity with that of Section 1(4) of the JJ Act of 2015 which we have already alluded hereinabove. 8. Section 9(3) of the JJ Act, including its proviso is as follows: 9(3). If the court finds that a person has committed an offence and was a child on the date of commission of such offence, it shall forward the child to the Board for passing appropriate orders and the sentence, if any, passed by the court shall be deemed to have no effect. 9. If the court finds that a person has committed an offence and was a child on the date of commission of such offence, it shall forward the child to the Board for passing appropriate orders and the sentence, if any, passed by the court shall be deemed to have no effect. 9. Section 9(3) of the JJ Act 2015 further provides that if the Court finds that the person had committed an offence and was a child on the date of commission of such offence, it shall forward the child to the Juvenile Justice Board (for short, JJ Board) of competent jurisdiction for passing appropriate orders and the sentence, if any, passed by the Court shall be deemed to have no effect. 10. On reading the proviso to Section 9(2) and Section 9(3) conjointly it is discernible that if the claim of juvenility is made at the appellate stage i.e. after final disposal of the trial and any sentence thereof had been passed, such sentence shall be deemed to have no effect and the claim of the child in conflict with law shall have to be forwarded to the concerned JJ Board for passing appropriate order(s). 11. We further take note of that Section 14 of the JJ Act of 2015, inter alia, provides that where a child alleged to be in conflict with law is produced before the concerned JJ Board, the Board shall hold an enquiry in accordance with the provisions of the Act and may pass any such order in relation to such child as it deems fit under Sections 17 and 18 of the JJ Act of 2015. 12. 12. Section 14(2) provides that the enquiry to be done be completed within a period of 4 (four) months from the date of first production of the child before the Board unless the period is extended by the Board, whereas Section 14(3) provides that a preliminary assessment in case of heinous offence under Section 15 be disposed of by the Board within a period of 3 (three) months from the date of first production of the child before the Board, with further provision that if the inquiry by the Board under Sub-Section (2) for a petty offence remains inconclusive even after the extended period, the proceeding shall be terminated but in respect of serious or heinous offence in case the Board requires further time for completion of the enquiry, the same shall be granted by the jurisdictional Chief Judicial Magistrate for reasons to be recorded in writing. 13. Section 14 (1) to 14(4) of the JJ Act of 2015 is as follows: 14. Inquiry by Board regarding child in conflict with law: 1. Where a child alleged to be in conflict with law is produced before Board, the Board shall hold an inquiry in accordance with the provisions of this Act and may pass such orders in relation to such child as it deems fit under sections 17 and 18 of this Act. 2. The inquiry under this section shall be completed within a period of four months from the date of first production of the child before the Board, unless the period is extended, for a maximum period of two more months by the Board, having regard to the circumstances of the case and after recording the reasons in writing for such extension. 3. A preliminary assessment in case of heinous offences under section 15 shall be disposed of by the Board within a period of three months from the date of first production of the child before the Board. 4. If inquiry by the Board under sub-section (2) for petty offences remains inconclusive even after the extended period, the proceedings shall stand terminated: Provided that for serious or heinous offences, in case the Board requires further extension of time for completion of inquiry, the same shall be granted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate or, as the case may be, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, for reasons to be recorded in writing. 14. 14. Section 15 of the JJ Act of 2015 provides that in case of a heinous offence being alleged to have been committed by a child who had completed or was about the age of 16, the Board shall conduct a preliminary assessment with regard to his mental and physical capacity to commit such offence, his ability to understand the consequence of the offence and the circumstances in which the alleged offence was committed and accordingly may pass an order in accordance with the provisions of Sub-Section 3 of Section 18, with further provision that for such assessment, the Board may take assistance of an experienced psychologist or psychosocial worker or other such experts. 15. Section 15 of the JJ Board is as follows: 15. Preliminary assessment into heinous offences by Board. In case of a heinous offence alleged to have been committed by a child, who has completed or is above the age of sixteen years, the Board shall conduct a preliminary assessment with regard to his mental and physical capacity to commit such offence, ability to understand the consequences of the offence and the circumstances in which he allegedly committed the offence, and may pass an order in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 18: Provided that for such an assessment, the Board may take the assistance of experienced psychologists or psychosocial workers or other experts. 16. If the result of the enquiry to be conducted under Section 14 of the JJ Act 2015 leads to a satisfaction of the Board that a child irrespective of age had committed a petty offence or a serious offence or a child below the age of 16 had committed a heinous offence, then notwithstanding anything contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force and based upon the nature of offence, specific need for supervision or intervention as brought out in the social investigation report and past conduct of the child, the Board may if it so thinks pass any of the orders provided under Section 18(1) of the Act. But on the other hand, if the preliminary assessment conducted under Section 15 of the JJ Act 2015, results in a heinous offence having been committed by a child who had completed or is above the age of 16, and had been subjected to an assessment by the Board with regard to his mental and physical capacity to commit such offence, his ability to understand the consequences of the offence and the circumstances in which he allegedly committed the offence. The Board may pass an order in accordance with Section 18(3) of the Act that there is a need for trial of the child as an adult and in such event, the Board shall order a transfer of the trial of the case to the jurisdictional children's court to try such offence. 17. In view of the orders to be passed under Section 18(3) that may provide for a need of trial of the child in conflict, we also have to clarify that the preliminary assessment that may be made under Section 14(3) and further under Section 15(1) is not a trial but is an assessment only for the purpose of assessing the capacity of such child to commit and understand the consequences of the alleged offence. 18. We also take note of the provisions of Section 24 of the JJ Act of 2015 which provides that notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, a child who had committed the offence and had been dealt under the provisions of the JJ Act of 2015, shall not suffer disqualification, if any, attached to a conviction of an offence under such law. But for such child who had completed or was above the age of 16 years and was found in conflict with law by the Children's Court under Clause (i) of Sub-Section 1 of Section 19, the provisions of Section 24(1) shall not apply, meaning thereby that the provisions of not suffering from any disqualification would be inapplicable. 19. Section 24 of the JJ Act of 2015 is as follows: Section 24. Removal of disqualification on the findings of an offence. 1. 19. Section 24 of the JJ Act of 2015 is as follows: Section 24. Removal of disqualification on the findings of an offence. 1. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, a child who has committed an offence and has been dealt with under the provisions of this Act shall not suffer disqualification, if any, attached to a conviction of an offence under such law: Provided that in case of a child who has completed or is above the age of sixteen years and is found to be in conflict with law by the Children's Court under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 19, the provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply. 2. (2) The Board shall make an order directing the Police, or by the Children's court to its own registry that the relevant records of such conviction shall be destroyed after the expiry of the period of appeal or, as the case may be, a reasonable period as may be prescribed: Provided that in case of a heinous offence where the child is found to be in conflict with law under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 19, the relevant records of conviction of such child shall be retained by the Children's Court. 20. We also take note of that the provisions of Section 24(2) of the JJ Act of 2015 provides that the Board shall make an order directing the Police or the Children's Court directing its own Registry that the relevant records of such conviction shall be destroyed after the expiry of the period of appeal or as the case may be, but is again subjected to the exception that in case of heinous offence where the child is found to be in conflict with law under Section 19(1)(i) the relevant records of conviction be retained by the Children's Court, and the requirement of destruction shall be inapplicable. 21. We accordingly forward the appellants No. 2 and 3 to the concerned JJ Board having jurisdiction over the matter i.e. JJ Board at Hailakandi for passing appropriate orders and as provided under Section 9(3) of the JJ Act of 2015, the sentence of rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 2000/- in default thereof to suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months is accordingly declared to be deemed to have no effect. 22. 2000/- in default thereof to suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months is accordingly declared to be deemed to have no effect. 22. It is stated that the appellants No. 2 and 3 are already on bail. The accused appellants No. 2 and 3 shall accordingly appear before the JJ Board at Hailakandi on 10.06.2019 and upon their appearance, the JJ Board shall proceed against them from the stage of Section 14 of the JJ Act of 2015 by following the required procedure as indicated above. 23. In terms of the above, this interlocutory application stands disposed of.