Expert Psychological Assessment Made Mandatory in Juvenile Heinous Crime Cases Under Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and POCSO Rape Trials: Allahabad High Court

The case concerns a juvenile accused of committing a heinous offence, where the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and the Children's Court failed to properly conduct a preliminary assessment under Section 15(1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (J.J. Act). The court scrutinized whether the Board followed proper procedures, including seeking expert assistance from psychologists or psycho-social workers for the child's assessment. The Juvenile Justice Board’s…