NAFR Digitally signed INDRAJEET by INDRAJEET SAHU HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR SAHU Date: 2026.01.06 17:42:11 +0530 CRR No. 1450 of 2025

1 – XYZ, S/o Nill, aged about Nil years, Resident of Nil.

... Applicant versus

1 - State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer - Police Station Manendragarh, District : Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Chhattisgarh.

... Respondent(s)

For Applicant : Shri Ramsevak Soni and Ms. Sabra Bano Sardharia, Advocates.

For Respondent-State : Shri Vivek Sharma, Panel Lawyer.

Hon'ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal

Order on Board

02 .0 1 .202 6

1. The present criminal revision filed under Section 102 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (in short ‘the Act of 2015’) against the impugned judgment dated 17.11.2025 passed by Children’s Court/Additional Sessions Judge (FTSC), Manendragarh, District Koriya, in Criminal Appeal No. 79 of 2025, whereby the appeal preferred by the applicant under Section 101 of the Act of 2015 was rejected and the order of rejection of bail by the learned Juvenile Justice Board Baikunthpur, District Koriya, dated 15.10.2025 in Criminal Case No. 84/2025 is affirmed.

2. Learned counsel for the applicant would submit that the applicant admittedly is a juvenile and he is in observation home since 07.09.2025. It is further submitted that as per Section 12 of the Act of 2015, for the purpose of releasing a juvenile on bail, the gravity of the offence is not to be seen. It is also submitted that the learned Juvenile Justice Board as well as learned Appellate Court has dismissed the bail application of the applicant considering the merits of the case as well as his social status report, but the same would have no relevance while considering the bail application of the juvenile. He would also submit that there is no possibility that after releasing him on bail, he will again come in association of known criminal persons, or there is no reason to believe that release of the applicant 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. Therefore, the applicant may be released on bail. In support of his submission he would rely upon order passed by Allahabad High Court in case of Golu Vs. State of UP and Another, 2020 (11) ADJ 212 and also the order passed by the Punjab & Haryana High Court in Ankit @ Tony Vs. State of Haryana, 2025(2)Law Herald 1568.

3. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State opposes the submissions made by learned counsel for the applicant on the ground that taking into consideration the nature of offence committed by the applicant, it is not a fit case where the applicant be enlarged on bail. Learned counsel also referred to the report of probationary officer of the concerned District Juvenile Protection Unit, Manendragarh. He would also submit that although the merits of the case and gravity of the offence would not be relevant for consideration of bail application of a juvenile, but in the facts and circumstances of the case, releasing the applicant on bail would defeat the ends of justice, as the manner in which the deceased was done to death by the juvenile along with other accused persons and the threat to the vicinity apprehending untoward incident from the applicant. The applicant is having criminal antecedent of Crime No. 29 of 2025 registered at PS Manendragarh for the offence under Section 331 (4) and 305 (A) of BNS, 2023. Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to release on bail.

4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material annexed with the present revision as well as case diary.

5. Before considering the case of the applicant, it would be appropriate if Section 12(1) of the Act of 2015 is taken into consideration, and for ready reference, the same is being reproduced hereinunder:

“Section 12:(1) When any person accused of a bailable or non-

bailable offence, and a