In Brief
A man accused of murder allegedly committed in April 2010 claimed to be a juvenile entitled to protection under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000. However, he possessed two conflicting matriculation certificates: one showing his date of birth as 7 October 1990 from his first school (Central Academy Senior Secondary School), and another showing 10 August 1993 from a later school. The Supreme Court held that the earliest declaration, documented in the first matriculation certificate and officially certified by the school principal to have been confirmed with parents, is conclusive proof of age. Since 7 October 1990 was the certified date, he was not a juvenile on the date of the offence and must be tried under the Indian Penal Code for murder. The High Court's order was set aside and the appeal allowed."
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