JABAR SINGH vs DINESH

The Supreme Court held that the determination of a person's juvenile status at the time of an alleged offence is a question of fact, requiring evidence evaluation as per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. The Court emphasized that the High Court cannot re-appreciate evidence and disturb factual findings of the trial court unless they are perverse or result in manifest injustice. The Court upheld the trial court's finding that the respondent was not a juvenile, thus reversing the High Court's order that had remitted the matter for trial as if the respondent were a juvenile.