If the age of the respondent is companyputed on the basis of the said certificate issued by the school on the basis of the School Leaving Register and he is found to be a juvenile on the date of the alleged companymission of offence, he was entitled to the benefits as provided under the Juvenile Justice Act of 2000.
This appeal has been filed by the Union of India being aggrieved by and dissatisfied with the judgment and order dated 30.7.2002 passed by the Allahabad High Court, whereby the High Court has held that the respondent herein was below 18 years of age on the date of the alleged companymission of the offence in question.
The aforesaid claim of the respondent was supported by a certificate issued by the school on the basis of the School Leaving Register.
2 The respondent was arrested for alleged companymission of an offence under Section 8/18 of the Narcotic Drugs Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
The aforesaid order of the High Court and the directions issued therein are under challenge in this appeal on which we have heard the learned companynsel appearing on behalf of the appellant as also the learned companynsel for the respondent.
Before the Special Judge, a companytention was raised on behalf of the respondent that he was a juvenile within the meaning of the Juvenile Justice Act of 2000.
