Subodh Nath & Anr vs State Of Tripura

The Supreme Court addressed the applicability of juvenile laws in the case of two appellants convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC for murder. The Court held that the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, apply to offences committed after its enactment, and since appellant no.2 was under 18 years at the time of the offence, he should be treated as a juvenile. The Court distinguished the applicability of the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986, which only considers individuals under 16 as juveniles, thereby allowing the appeal for appellant no.2 and setting aside the conviction against him.