Delh

Bhondsi murder: SC orders status quo on JJB proceedings

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Matter has been posted for further hearing on January 21

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the proceedings of the Gurugram Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), which was to consider afresh whether the teenager accused of killing a seven-year-old boy inside a private school should be tried as an adult in the case.

‘In six weeks’

The JJB was directed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on October 11 to decide afresh in six weeks whether the teenager was to be tried as an adult in the case.

A Bench of justices R.F. Nariman and Navin Sinha said there would be status quo on the proceedings of the JJB.

Also, it posted the matter for further hearing on January 21.

The Bench also issued notices to the teenager and the CBI and sought their response on a petition filed by the father of the victim through an advocate.

Challenged HC

The victim’s father had challenged the High Court’s October 11 order on the ground that it was illegal and contrary to established procedure of the law.

The High Court had allowed the petition of the accused, filed in July, challenging the decision of the JJB to try him as an adult in the murder case.

The CBI, in a charge sheet, had alleged that the teenager had murdered the student on September 8 last year in a bid to get examinations postponed and a scheduled parent-teacher meeting cancelled.

Found murdered

The victim’s body, with the throat slit, was found in the washroom of the school at the Bhondsi area here.

The CBI had taken up the case from the Gurugram police on September 22, 2017, following a nationwide uproar over the killing.