Une affaire de meurtre en 1980: le tribunal de la Haute Cour d'Allahabad conclut que deux condamnés étaient mineurs et renvoie l'affaire au Conseil de la justice pour mineurs.

The Allahabad High Court has overturned the convictions of two men in a 1980 murder case after determining they were minors at the time of the crime. However, the court upheld their conviction and referred the case to the Juvenile Justice Board for sentencing. The decision came on October 15, 2026, following an appeal related to an attack that occurred in Sultanpur on September 28, 1980. Eight individuals allegedly used sharp-edged weapons and spears to attack multiple people during the incident. Four victims, Shamshad, Abdul Rafiq, Dilsher, and Hamidullah, were killed, while others suffered injuries. A Sessions Court had previously convicted all eight accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment on December 14, 1981. During the appeal process, Siraj Ahmad and Abdul Wahid argued they were minors at the time of the offense. To verify their ages, the Juvenile Justice Board conducted an investigation using its reports and educational records. The court confirmed that Ahmad was 17 years and 10 months old, and Wahid was 17 years and 11 months old at the time of the crime. While affirming their guilt based on witness testimony and medical evidence, the court noted that the existing sentences under criminal law could not stand due to their juvenile status. The bench emphasized that the two men could not escape consequences entirely but required sentencing under juvenile justice laws. Both were ordered to appear before the Juvenile Justice Board on October 28, 2026, with a certified copy of the judgment. The board was instructed to issue an appropriate order within six weeks of receiving the documents. The case involves a Division Bench comprising Justices Abdul Moin and Pramod Kumar Srivastava. The remaining six accused have not challenged their convictions or sentences. The Juvenile Justice Board will now decide on the appropriate course of action for Ahmad and Wahid.