In Rahul Kumar Yadav v. The State of Bihar [2024] 5 S.C.R. 501 : 2024 INSC 359 the issue for consideration was challenge to the conviction of the Petitioner under Section 302 and 394 IPC on the ground that the courts below erred in not considering the Petitioner’s plea of juvenility on the date of commission of the alleged offence.
The Supreme Court held that the claim of juvenility can be raised for the first time even in appeal if not pressed before the trial court, including the Supreme Court – The focus of Juvenile Justice Act is on the juvenile’s reformation and rehabilitation, and hyper technical approach of the Court should not defeat the beneficent provisions contained in the Act.