Mobin's Conviction Upheld But Sentence Quashed Following Confirmation of Juvenility at Time of Offense
In a significant judgment, the Uttarakhand High Court has ordered the immediate release of Mobin, who has been in custody for over 13 years, following the confirmation that he was a juvenile at the time of the offense. The Division Bench comprising Justices Ashish Naithani and Ravindra Maithani delivered the verdict on December 30, 2025, in the case of "Imran @ Mana v. State of Uttarakhand."
The case centered around Mobin, who was convicted under Sections 302 and 393 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 2008. The conviction was upheld by the Division Bench of the Uttarakhand High Court in 2013 and later by the Supreme Court. However, Mobin filed an application from jail in 2021, claiming juvenility at the time of the offense in 2003, prompting the High Court to request an inquiry into his age.
The Registrar (Judicial) conducted a comprehensive inquiry, confirming Mobin’s date of birth as May 22, 1988, thereby establishing his status as a juvenile during the commission of the offense on June 24, 2003. The court acknowledged the Registrar's findings as conclusive proof, in line with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, which stipulates that claims of juvenility can be raised at any stage of legal proceedings.
The court maintained Mobin's conviction under Sections 302 and 393 of the IPC but quashed the sentence, as juveniles can only be detained for a maximum of three years under the Juvenile Justice Act. The judgment cited previous Supreme Court rulings, emphasizing that inquiries by the Registrar (Judicial) are deemed equivalent to court-conducted inquiries, thus holding precedence over previous judgments.
The High Court's decision underscores the legal provisions for juveniles, ensuring their rights are upheld even after a case's final disposal. Mobin’s release is contingent upon no other pending legal cases against him.
Bottom Line:
Juvenile Justice - Claim of juvenility can be raised before any court at any stage, even after final disposal of the case. Sentence awarded to juvenile in conflict with law quashed, as maximum detention period for juveniles under the JJ Act is three years.
Statutory provision(s): Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 Sections 7A, 15, 16, Indian Penal Code Sections 302, 393
Imran @ Mana v. State of Uttarakhand, (Uttarakhand)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2834068
