A delinquent juvenile should be released on bail unless there are reasonable grounds to believe that the release would bring the juvenile into association with known criminals or expose them to danger, as per Section 12(1) of the Act of 2015.

JUDGMENT

Pushpendra Singh Bhati, J. - In wake of second surge in the COVID-19 cases, abundant caution is being maintained, while hearing the matters in Court, for the safety of all concerned.

2. This criminal revision petition under Section 102 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (for short 'the Act of 2015' hereinafter) is directed against the order dated 22.06.2021 passed by the learned Children Court (Session Judge), Hanumangarh (for short 'the appellate court' hereinafter), whereby the appellate court has dismissed the appeal filed by the juvenile through his natural guardian father against the order dated 18.06.2021 passed by learned Juvenile Justice Board, Hanumangarh (for short 'the trial court' hereinafter) on an application under section 12 of the Act of 2015, whereby the prayer for releasing the juvenile on bail was dismissed by the trial court.

3. The allegation of rape is upon Bhupendra, though the presence of the present petitioner has been recorded at the site.

4. This Court perused the material available on record. Section 12(1) of the Act of 2015, reads as under:

"12. (1) When any person, who is apparently a child and is alleged to have committed a bailable or non-bailable offence, is apprehended or detained by the police or appears or brought before a Board, such person shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or in any other law for the time being in force, be released on bail with or without surety or placed under the supervision of a probation officer or under the care of any fit person:

Provided that such person shall not be so released if there appears reasonable grounds for believing that the release is likely to bring that person into association with any known criminal or expose the said person to moral, physical or psychological danger or the person's release would defeat the ends of justice, and the Board shall record the reasons for denying the bail and circumstances that led to such a decision."

5. From perusal of Section 12(1) of the Act of 2015, it is clear that a delinquent juvenile ordinarily has to be released on bail irrespective of nature of offence alleged to have been committed by him unless it is shown by evidence that if he is released on bail, there appear reasonable grounds for believing that the release of the delinquent juvenile is likely to bring him into association with any known criminal or expose him to moral, physical or psychological danger or that his release would defeat the ends of justice. The nature of offence and the merits of the case do not have any relevance. It is for the prosecution to bring on record such material while opposing the bail and make out any of the grounds provided in the Section 12(1) of the Act of 2015, which may persuade the Court not to release the juvenile on bail. But in this case, there is nothing on record to show that the release of the petitioner is likely to bring him into association with any known criminal or expose to moral, physical or psychological danger or that his release would defeat the ends of justice.

6. In view of the above, the revision petition is allowed. The impugned orders 18.06.2021 and 22.06.2021 are set aside and it is directed that petitioner-J. S/o Nihal Singh be released on bail provided his natural guardian-father furnishes a personal bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with a surety bond in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Hanumangarh with the stipulation that on all subsequent dates of hearing, he shall produce the petitioner before the Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Hanumangarh or any other Court till the enquiry or trial is concluded.

7. In case the petitioner makes any post on any kind of social media or causes any future harassment to the prosecutrix then the prosecutrix shall be at liberty to move cancellation of the present order of revision whereby the petitioner has