RAJU vs THE STATE OF HARYANA

The Supreme Court held that the appellant, Raju, was a juvenile at the time of the offence under Section 376(2)(g) IPC, as determined by an inquiry conducted under Section 7A of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The Court emphasized that the age determination is crucial for applying the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, and since the appellant was found to be 16 years and 2 months old at the time of the incident, he was entitled to the benefits of the Act. Consequently, the Court set aside the conviction and sentence imposed by the lower courts, allowing the appeal.