HP High Court Upholds Trial of Juvenile as Adult in 2021 Minor Rape Case
High Court Dismisses Juvenile's Revision Petition The Himachal Pradesh High Court has dismissed a revision petition filed by a juvenile offender challenging the orders of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and the Sessions Judge to try him as an adult in a heinous offence involving the rape of a seven-year-old girl. The trial will proceed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Justice Rakesh Kainthla, delivering the verdict, upheld the findings of the lower courts, noting the accused’s deliberate actions and awareness of the consequences. The court highlighted that the juvenile committed repeated sexual assaults, cleaned the blood to destroy evidence, and threatened the victim to remain silent, showing an intent to conceal the crime. Incident Details The case concerns a juvenile, referred to as 'V', who was 16 years, one month, and 23 days old at the time of the incident on February 12, 2021...