Allahabad High Court Orders Strict Age Verification in POCSO Cases

The Allahabad High Court directed the UP Government to implement strict age verification mechanisms in criminal cases under Section 94 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, addressing concerns over manipulated birth dates in criminal cases.

The Court was hearing a bail plea in a POCSO case where the victim claimed to be 16, but later medical tests showed she was 18. Authorities failed to conduct an ossification test despite Court orders, citing infrastructure issues.

The Court criticized this delay and noted misuse of juvenile status through fake birth records. The UP Government ordered the state to appoint radiologists in all districts to prevent such lapses and ensure fair trials.