Vadodara Court Imposes Life Sentence on Juvenile for 2018 School Toilet Murder
A Special Court in Vadodara, Gujarat, has delivered a landmark verdict, sentencing a Child in Conflict with Law (CCL) to life imprisonment for the brutal stabbing murder of a 14-year-old student inside a primary school toilet in June 2018. The court, while acknowledging the gravity of the heinous crime, also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 and an additional six months of simple imprisonment in case of default.
Trial as an Adult Under Juvenile Justice Act
The accused, who was 16 years and six months old at the time of the incident, was tried as an adult following a preliminary assessment by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB). The JJB transferred the case to the Children's Court under Section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act, allowing for adult prosecution due to the serious nature of the offense.
Public Prosecutor PC Patel argued vehemently against leniency, emphasizing that the victim was unknown to the assailant and the act was one of cold-blooded murder. The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including CCTV footage showing the CCL emerging from the toilet with a knife, blood-soaked clothes, and a brown bag, moments after two panicked students fled the scene.
Premeditated Attack and Prosecution Evidence
According to the prosecution's case, the attack was premeditated. The CCL had been rebuked by a teacher two days prior and allegedly planned the assault in vengeance against school authorities. He arrived at the school armed with chilli powder and a sharp knife, demonstrating clear intent.
The prosecution examined 20 witnesses, including teachers and students who witnessed the stabbing. The court noted that the evidence conclusively proved the CCL's mindset, his capacity to understand the crime, and the consequences of his actions. The Vadodara city police filed a chargesheet before the JJB, leading to the case's transfer.
Court's Verdict and Legal Considerations
While the defense, represented by a legal aid advocate, pleaded for minimal punishment citing the CCL's current age of around 25 and his role as the sole breadwinner for his family, the court remained unmoved. It held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court convicted the CCL under relevant provisions, sentencing him to life imprisonment with an explicit possibility of release as per the Juvenile Justice Act. It also directed that time spent in a safe place and judicial custody be counted toward the sentence. The CCL was acquitted under Section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act for disobedience of law.
Background of the Tragic Incident
The murder occurred on June 22, 2018, during shift change at a government primary school in Vadodara. Screams from the toilet alerted teachers, who discovered the blood-soaked body of the 14-year-old victim, a new student who had enrolled just two days earlier. The victim died on the spot.
Although there was no CCTV inside the toilet, cameras outside captured the CCL's movements. He escaped initially but was detained by police after being identified in the footage. A school bag containing weapons was recovered from the terrace, and he was apprehended a day later in Valsad, approximately 200 kilometers away.
The court expressed deep compassion for the victim's family, directing the District Legal Services Authority to provide adequate compensation, while acknowledging that no financial aid could fill the void left by their loss. It emphasized that such grave crimes cannot be taken lightly, yet noted the absence of other criminal antecedents, making the sentence under Section 21 of the Juvenile Justice Act appropriate to meet the ends of justice.
