JUDGMENT :

Leave granted.

2. Heard learned counsel for the parties at length.

3. This Court vide its order dated 19.09.2016 directed the concerned District and Sessions Judge to make an inquiry under Section 7-A of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 [hereinafter ‘JJ Act' for brevity] and Rule 12 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007 [hereinafter ‘JJ Rules' for brevity] with regard to the claim of the juvenility of the appellant and file a report in this regard.

4. Accordingly, the District and Sessions Judge, Ganjam, Berhampur submitted an Inquiry Report dated 07.10.2016.

5. It is now well settled that a specific procedure is laid down, under section 7A of JJ Act read with Rule 12 of JJ Rules, which has to be followed while determining the juvenility of a person. As per the said inquiry report, it is clear that the matriculation certificate issued by the Secondary Education, Odisha and the certificates issued by Seventh Day Adventist School, Gopabundhunagar, Hillpatna, Berhampur (Ex. 2 and 3) and the admission register maintained by the school, indicates that the date of birth of the appellant was 01.08.1992. In light of sect