Ram Narain vs State Of U.P

The Supreme Court held that the petitioner, having been declared a juvenile offender under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, is entitled to relief despite having served over 10 years of life imprisonment for an offence under Section 302 IPC. The Court emphasized that the plea of juvenility can be raised at any time, as established in Upendra Pradhan v. State of Orissa. Consequently, the Court ordered the release of the petitioner, recognizing the implications of his juvenile status at the time of the offence.