Courts must extend the benefit of plea of juvenility when no exact age of child can be established: SC

The Supreme Court, hearing a plea of juvenility in an appeal filed by the accused convicted by the Allahabad High Court for offence under Section 302 IPC, has held that when there are conflicting reports & documents regarding the assessment of age of the accused Rule 12(3)(b) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007 would apply & the Court has to extend the benefit of juvenility to the accused by considering his age on lower side within the margin of one year.