Allahabad High Court says medical age tests are not needed when school or birth records are available
The Facts
- The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench said medical age-determination tests are not to be used for a minor when school or other official birth records are available.
- The court’s ruling involved an ossification test, which the bench said was not proper in this situation.
- The high court granted bail to a minor accused of molesting and threatening a 15-year-old girl.
- The court set aside orders of the Juvenile Justice Board and the Special POCSO Court in the case.
- The case arose from Pratapgarh district, where an FIR was lodged at Leelapur police station on March 11, 2025.
- The minor was booked under provisions of the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- The high court ordered the minor to report to the district probation officer with a guardian on the 10th of every month for one year and to avoid criminal activity.
Context
What did the court say about school records versus medical tests?
The bench said that when school, board, municipal, or panchayat records are available, those documents should be used to determine age instead of a medical examination like an ossification test Rediff.com India Lt… Times of India NewsDrum.
What happened to the earlier orders in the case?
The high court set aside the Juvenile Justice Board’s order and the Special POCSO Court’s order, then granted the minor bail with conditions Hindustan Times Rediff.com India Lt… NewsDrum.
What bail conditions were reported?
The reported conditions were that the minor must appear before the district probation officer with a guardian on the 10th of each month for one year and stay away from criminal activity Hindustan Times Rediff.com India Lt….
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