SHAH NAWAZ vs STATE OF U.P.

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court dismissing the appellant's criminal revision against the Additional Sessions Judge's ruling that declared him not a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The Court emphasized the importance of Rule 12 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007, which mandates timely age determination for juveniles in conflict with the law. The Court found that the appellant's age was not conclusively established, thus affirming the lower court's decision.