Supreme Court Orders Release of Man Jailed for 25 Years Due to Misjudged Juvenility

The Supreme Court ordered the release of Om Prakash, imprisoned for 25 years, after ruling he was a juvenile at the time of a 1994 murder. 

The Bench found courts, including the Supreme Court, had ignored his juvenility plea under Section 9(2) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, which allows such claims at any stage if not properly examined earlier. An ossification test confirmed he was 14 during the crime. 

The Court emphasized rehabilitation over punishment, noting judicial errors violated his rights. It directed Uttarakhand Legal Services to aid his reintegration and access welfare schemes, ensuring justice under Article 21.