'Minor can be tried as adult if crime qualifies as heinous offence': Supreme Court

Supreme Court ruled that a minor can be tried as an adult if the crime qualifies as a heinous offence under the Juvenile Justice Act.

Murder under Section 302 of the IPC is classified as a heinous offence because life imprisonment is considered the minimum punishment.

The judgement clarifies that heinous offences under the Juvenile Justice Act carry a minimum imprisonment of seven years or more.

The Patna High Court had directed the Juvenile Justice Board to transfer the case to a regular court for trial as an adult.