The Gujarat High Court has granted bail to a minor accused of fatally stabbing an older schoolmate, citing a history of bullying by the victim. The incident, which took place at a school in Ahmedabad last year, resulted in the victim’s death following the attack. The minor, who was 14 years and 9 months old at the time of his arrest on August 22, 2025, faced charges under Sections 109(1) (attempted murder) and 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).<\/p>\n
In its decision to grant bail, the court considered a report from a probation officer, which indicated that the accused had been subjected to ongoing bullying by the 16-year-old victim. The court noted that interactions between the two minors highlighted a pattern of harassment, with the victim reportedly threatening the accused if he sought help from a teacher. Following this threat, the probation officer’s report mentioned that the accused began carrying a knife for protection.<\/p>\n
Recognizing that the accused is a school-aged child, the court ordered his release on bail, contingent upon a personal bond of Rs 10,000 being executed by the father. The court also acknowledged the probation officer’s account of the events leading up to the stabbing, which occurred on August 19, resulting in the victim succumbing to his injuries the following day.<\/p>\n
The probation officer emphasized that, due to the accused’s age, he should remain in an observation home and receive ongoing counseling, which is currently in place. The court instructed the probation officer to closely monitor the accused’s behavior and submit quarterly reports to the Board or the Children\u2019s Court throughout the trial process.<\/p>\n
During the proceedings, the attorney representing the accused argued that Section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act) should not be applicable in this case. This section allows the Juvenile Justice Board to assess minors aged 16 to 19 accused of severe crimes to determine their mental and physical capability to commit such offenses. The attorney contended that the mental and physical attributes of a minor under 16 should not be a factor in this determination.<\/p>\n
The lawyer further asserted that the circumstances surrounding the case should be documented through a social investigation report, reflecting the child\u2019s past behavior. The Board would then have the discretion to implement provisions outlined in Section 18 of the JJ Act, which emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment. This may include allowing the child to return home with guidance, mandating community service, imposing fines on parents or guardians, or placing the child on probation or in a special home for up to three years.<\/p>\n
The court acknowledged that the trial will commence at a later date and reiterated the findings from the probation officer’s report regarding the ongoing bullying faced by the accused. The report detailed that the victim had consistently pressured the accused, leading to the latter carrying a knife for protection. The court clarified that there was no direct confrontation between the two on the day of the incident.<\/p>\n
Aditi Raja, an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express based in Vadodara, Gujarat, brings over two decades of experience in journalism. Since 2013, she has been reporting on various issues in Central Gujarat and the Narmada district, establishing herself as a credible source on regional politics, administration, and significant socio-economic and environmental matters.<\/p>\n
Her expertise encompasses a thorough understanding of the intricate dynamics within Central Gujarat, which is home to a large tribal population. Aditi’s coverage includes political analysis, the impact of major regional projects such as the Statue of Unity and the Sardar Sarovar Project, as well as sensitive human-interest topics related to social justice and human rights, including legal proceedings in district courts and the Gujarat High Court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Gujarat High Court has granted bail to a minor accused of fatally stabbing an older schoolmate, citing a history of bullying by the victim. The incident, which took place at a school in Ahmedabad last year, resulted in the victim’s death following the attack. The minor, who was 14 years and 9 months old […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4228,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[40,155],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india","category-in-legal"],"yoast_head":"\n