Gang-rape accused is still a minor, say principals

A “juvenile” involved in the December 16 gang-rape case apparently received a reprieve on Tuesday when the Juvenile Justice Board was told by a school principal that the accused is a minor as per record available with a government aided school in Uttar Pradesh.

The board, however, has not accepted it as the final verdict. Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel was told that the accused was born on June 4, 1995–which makes him 17 years and six months old when the gang-rape took place last month. The matter came to light when the present and a former principals of a school in Bhawanipur Khalli village in UP’s Budaun district appeared before the board at Delhi Gate.

The board had earlier asked the principals to personally appear with documents pertaining to the accused’s age.

The boy studied at the school till Class 3, but the principals claim that they cannot identify him. The former principal told the board that the boy’s father had accompanied him at the time of admission.

He further told the board that they do not ask parents to give the child’s birth certificate as age proof during the time of admission.