Juvenile Justice Takes Precedence Over NIA Act: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that a juvenile accused in the 2017 Bhopal-Ujjain train blast must be tried in a Children's Court, not a special NIA court.  

The 17-year-old, found fit for adult trial by the Juvenile Justice Board, was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other laws.  

Justice Sanjay Dwivedi emphasized that the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, overrides the National Investigation Agency Act, granting exclusive jurisdiction to the Children's Court in such cases.  

This decision clarifies that even in serious national security matters, juveniles tried as adults fall under the purview of the Juvenile Justice framework.