Juvenile Records Cannot Hinder Future Prospects:  Supreme Court Orders Deletion Of Juvenile Records

Supreme Court: Juvenile Convictions Cannot Be Disclosed in Character Certificates

 

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the protective intent of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, quashing the disclosure of a juvenile conviction in an official character certificate. The Court stressed that a rehabilitated juvenile should not face lifelong disqualification due to past mistakes.

 

Case Background

 

The case involved Lokesh Kumar, who was convicted as a juvenile for minor offences under the IPC in 2021 and was sentenced to sit before the Juvenile Justice Board till the rising of the Board, along with a fine of ?600.

 

Years later, while applying for a job at SIS Case Services Ltd., Raipur, he submitted a character certificate issued by the Superintendent of Police, Balodabazar, which disclosed his past juvenile conviction. Aggrieved, he moved the Chhattisgarh High Court, citing Section 24 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, which mandates that no disqualification should arise from juvenile convictions. When the High Court dismissed his plea citing an alternative remedy, Kumar approached the Supreme Court.

 

Key Legal Issues

 

The Supreme Court examined:

 

1. Whether mentioning a juvenile conviction in a character certificate violates Section 24 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

 

 

2. Whether the High Court erred in dismissing the petition based on alternative remedy grounds.

 

 

3. Whether a juvenile’s past conviction can lawfully impact future employment.

 

 

 

Supreme Court's Ruling

 

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta ruled in Kumar’s favor, emphasizing that:

 

Juvenile convictions should not lead to disqualifications (as per Section 24 of the Act).

 

The “principle of fresh start” (Section 3(xiv)) ensures all past juvenile records are erased, except in exceptional cases.

 

Alternative remedies do not justify continued stigma, and disclosing juvenile convictions in character certificates violates the Act’s intent.

 

 

Directions Issued

 

1. The High Court’s order (dated August 27, 2024) and the character certificate (dated July 9, 2024) were quashed.

 

 

2. Authorities were directed to ensure that juvenile convictions do not appear in background checks, character certificates, or job screenings.

 

 

3. The Court reinforced that juvenile convictions must not be used to deny employment or other opportunities.

 

 

 

This ruling strengthens the rehabilitative focus of the Juvenile Justice Act, ensuring that past mistakes do not haunt individuals striving for a fresh start.

AdvoTalks : Justice Gets Easy - YouTube