PRATAP SINGH vs STATE OF JHARKHAND

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of determining the age of a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice Act, holding that the relevant date for age assessment is the date of production before the court, not the date of the alleged offence. The Court reaffirmed the principle established in Arnit Das vs. State of Bihar, (2000) 5 SCC 488, emphasizing that the school certificate is the best evidence for establishing age. The case was referred to a Constitution Bench due to conflicting views in prior judgments, particularly regarding the application of the 1986 Act versus the 2000 Act.