Petitioner Ahmad Sher through the instant petition has challenged the order-dated 28.3.2006 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Sargodha whereby he accepted the petition moved by Respondent No, 2 and declared him Juvenile and directed the SHO for submission of separate challan.
2. It is contended that according to Section 7 of the Justice Juvenile System Ordinance, 2002, it was mandatory upon the trial Court to have ossification test of Respondent No, 2 accused and thereafter could only form its opinion about the age of said respondent.
3. On the other hand, learned counsel for Respondent No, 2 opposed this petition half heartedly and submitted that as the school leaving certificate is genuine and was not objected by the petitioner before the trial Court, therefore, the order of the learned Additional Sessions Judge is correct and legal. He further submitted that Respondent No, 2 is ready to have ossification test as contemplated in Justice Juvenile System Ordinance, 2002.
4. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.
5. Section 7 of the Justice Juvenile System Ordinance, 2000 is reproduced hereunder:-- "If a question arises as to whether a person before it is a child for the purposes of this Ordinance, the Juvenile Court shall record a finding after such inquiry which shall include a medical report for determination of the age of the child."
6. A bare perusal of section would show that the provisions of having a medical report is mandatory in nature. So, it was obligatory for the trial Court to have a medical report to determine the age of the accused for the purposes of Justice Juvenile System Ordinance, 2000, I am, thus, fully convinced that the trial Court erred in not getting a report from the Medical Board of DHQ for determination of the age of the accused/respondents. Even otherwise, learned counsel for Respondent No, 2 has submitted that Respondent No, 2 is willing to have an ossification test as contemplated in the ordinance. In these circumstances, order dated 28.3.2006 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Sargodha is set aside and case is remitted back for decision a fresh in accordance with law, after having a report from Medical Board of District Head Quarter Hospital with regard the age of the accused/Respondent No, 2.
7. This revision is allowed in the above terms.