Chhattisgarh HC Grants Bail To Juveniles Accused Of Murder, Citing No Active Role And No Evidence Of Risk From Release

The applicants, juveniles, were among those charge-sheeted for the alleged murder of Rahul Chauhan under Sections 103(1) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Their bail applications under Section 12 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (“JJ Act”) were rejected by the Juvenile Justice Board on 4 June 2026; their appeals were dismissed by the Upper Sessions Judge on 11 and 15 June 2026.

The applicants had been in an Observation Home since 12 February 2026. The social status reports described this as their first conflict with law and recorded good conduct; the case diary did not indicate an active role in the offence.

Section 12 of the JJ Act governs bail for a child alleged to be in conflict with law; bail may be refused where the statutory grounds for refusal are established, including a reasonable likelihood of association with known criminals or exposure to moral, physical, or psychological danger.

Section 102 confers revisional jurisdiction under the JJ Act. The Court cited no judicial precedents in its reasoning.

The Court considered the applicants’ first involvement with the law, their good conduct in the Observation Home, and the case diary’s indication that they had not played an active role in the alleged offence.

The prosecution had produced no material showing that release would likely bring them into association with known criminals or expose them to moral, physical, or psychological danger. On those circumstances, the Court found the refusal of bail unjustified and allowed the revisions.

The Court directed that each applicant be released into the custody of their respective parent upon furnishing a personal bond of ₹25,000 with one surety for the like amount, subject to ensuring the applicant’s appearance before the Board as directed.