ORDER
Uma Nath Singh , J.
1. Heard the Counsel for the parties and perused the records.
2. The main submission of Mr. Choubey is that though the learned Addl. Sessions Judge held the non-applicant No. 2 guilty of offence under Section 302, IPC, he referred the matter to the Juvenile Board, the competent authority under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, for passing an order on the sentence. Mr. Choubey further submits that before holding that the non-applicant No. 2 was a juvenile, the learned Addl. Sessions Judge should have conducted necessary enquiry by giving proper opportunity to the parties to lead evidence in that regard.
3. On the other hand, Shri Datt, appearing for the non-applicant No. 2 submits that under the provisions of Sections 14 and 20 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, the applicant would get an opportunity to lead evidence to the contrary before the Juvenile Justice Board, being the competent authority.
4. On a due consideration of rival submissions, I am of the opinion that without giving the parties an opportunity to lead evidence, the learned Addl. Sessions Judge has given a conclusive finding on the age of the Juvenile which for the purpose of Section 20 of the Act appears to be final in nature. The section on reproduction read as under :–
“20. Special provision in respect of pending case.– NotÂwithstanding anything contained in this Act all proceedings in respect of a Juvenile pending in any Court in any area on the date on which this Act comes into force in that area, shall be continued in that Court as if this Act had not been passed and if the Court finds that the juvenile has committed an offence, it shall record such finding and instead of passing any sentence in respect of the juvenile, forward the juvenile to the Board which shall pass orders in respect of that juvenile in accordance with the provisions of this Act as if it had been satisfied on inquiry under this Act that a juvenile has committed the offence.”
Thus once the matter has been considered in terms of Section 20 of the Act, the provisions of Section 14 shall not come into play.
5. Under the circumstances, the finding of the learned Addl. Sessions Judge on the age of the Juvenile without giving an opportunity to parties for leading evidence, is hereby set aside and the learned Addl. Sessions Judge is directed to decide the point afresh in terms of the relevant provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act by giving opportunities to the parties to lead their evidence within a period of fifteen days from receipt of a copy of the order of this Court.
6. The criminal revision is accordingly disposed of.
7. The Registry is directed to send a copy of this order directly to the concerned Sessions Judge.
C.C. as per rules.