(1.) Heard the Learned Senior Counsel Dr. S. Muralidhar for the Appellant, and Learned Additional Solicitor General Mr. K.M. Nataraj and Learned Counsel Ms. Vanshaja Shukla for the Respondents. We have also carefully perused the written arguments along with the documents, filed by both the sides in respect of their respective contentions.
(2.) We are dealing with a case where grave injustice has been perpetrated, on account of the consistent failure on part of the judicial machinery to recognise and act upon the constitutional mandate vis-a-vis the plea of juvenility. Lord Atkin's words of wisdom in United Australia Limited v. Barclay's Bank Ltd., [1941] A.C. 1 at p.29 become relevant in the aforementioned context:
(3.) We are further reminded of the words of V.R. Krishna Iyer J., on the laudable ideals of truth and justice in Jasraj Inder Singh v. Hemraj Multanchand, (1977) 2 SCC 155 :-