Pappu vs Sonu & Anr

The Supreme Court allowed the appeal against the Allahabad High Court's judgment which had declared the respondent a juvenile based solely on a doctor's certificate, despite the High Court acknowledging that educational records and maternal statements were unreliable. The Court emphasized that the High Court's conclusion was not supported by credible evidence and reiterated that the respondent could still prove his age during trial. The ruling clarified that reliance on insufficient evidence for determining juvenile status is impermissible under Rule 22(5) of the Uttar Pradesh Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2004.