World · India Bureau
Assam court orders juvenile rape accused tried as adult
An Assam juvenile justice board has directed that a 17-year-old accused of rape be tried in regular criminal court, citing the gravity of the alleged offense. The decision marks a rare intervention in juvenile proceedings in the northeastern state.
LSN India ·
The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Assam's Hailakandi district has ordered that a 17-year-old rape accused be tried as an adult, according to police officials. The principal magistrate of the board passed the order after evaluating the severity of the alleged crime, Hailakandi police said in a statement on Tuesday.
Under India's Juvenile Justice Act, individuals below 18 years of age typically face proceedings in specialized juvenile courts designed to prioritize rehabilitation. However, the law permits exceptions in cases involving heinous offenses, allowing courts to direct that accused juveniles be prosecuted under regular criminal statutes.
The board's decision underscores the nature of the allegations, though further details regarding the incident remain limited. The case will now proceed through the regular criminal justice system in Assam.
The order reflects judicial assessment that the circumstances warrant departure from standard juvenile court procedures. Additional details on the case timeline and next legal steps are awaited.