RAJINDER CHANDRA vs STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

The Supreme Court held that the High Court's decision to classify Pranjal Tiwari as a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 was justified, overturning the findings of the lower courts. The Court emphasized that the burden of proof lies on the accused to establish his age, and the evidence presented, including school records and a birth certificate, sufficiently demonstrated that he was born on 30.9.1981. The Court affirmed the High Court's ruling, thereby allowing the appeal and recognizing the accused's entitlement to juvenile status under the law.