JUDGMENT :

ABHAY S. OKA, J.

1. Heard the learned senior counsel appearing for the appellant and the learned counsel for the respondent/State.

2. The appellant has taken an exception to the judgment and order dated 3rd May, 2010 passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Chhattisgarh. The appellant herein was the second appellant before the High Court. The appellant was convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 302 and 201 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment.

3. The issue of juvenility was raised by the appellant in this Appeal during the course of hearing by filing an interlocutory application. Therefore, vide order dated 13th September, 2023, this Court directed the Sessions Court to hold an enquiry into that aspect of issue of juvenility. In terms of the order of this Court, the learned 1st Additional Sessions Judge, Ramanujganj, District Balrampur, Chhattisgarh, has submitted a finding dated 30th October, 2023, which records that the date of birth of the appellant is 1st September, 1982 and, therefore, on 15th June, 2000, which is the date of the occurrence of the offence, the age of the appellant was 17 ye