Lucknow, The Allahabad High Court has set aside the sentences of two men convicted in a murder case 46 years ago after finding that both were minors at the time of the crime.
However, the Lucknow bench of the court upheld their conviction and referred the matter to the Juvenile Justice Board to determine the appropriate punishment. During the pendency of their appeal in the high court, appellants Siraj Ahmad and Abdul Wahid claimed that they were minors when the incident occurred. Following the high court’s directions, the Juvenile Justice Board conducted an inquiry to ascertain their age. The court observed that the two convicts could not be let off without any consequence, but the appropriate order had to be passed in accordance with the provisions of the juvenile justice law.
The sessions court had convicted all eight accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment on December 14, 1981. Based on the board’s report and educational records, the court found that Ahmad was 17 years and 10 months old, while Wahid was 17 years and 11 months old at the time of the crime.
