The family of the juvenile suspect attributed massive media attention in the case for the decision. (HT File Photo)
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On Monday evening, as soon as additional session judge Jasvir Singh Kundu pronounced his judgment, upholding an earlier order of the Juvenile Justice Board to treat the juvenile as an adult, the father left the courtroom.
“I will not give up. This order has shaken my family as we were hopeful the decision would be in our favour, but this is not the end. I will file a writ petition against the order in the high court,” the 16-year-old’s father said.
The juvenile faces the charges of killing the Class 2 student by slitting his throat in the school toilet on September 8, 2017.
The family of the suspect attributed massive media attention in the case for the decision.
“There are juveniles who are into more serious and heinous offences and are still tried as juveniles, there are hundreds of examples in the Gurugram court itself and the accused are out on bail too. Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation officials had pressured my innocent child. From a prime witness in the case, he was eventually made the ‘main accused’. He was threatened and framed for something he has not done,” the father said.
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The father said that as per the doctors and the social investigation report, it was nowhere specified that his son, who has an average IQ, should be tried as an adult.
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The father said that as per the doctors and the social investigation report, it was nowhere specified that his son, who has an average IQ, should be tried as an adult.
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“As per the test, his IQ score was 95. Where is it written that a child with this score should be treated as an adult? I fail to understand how the law system works, there is no evidence against my son and the trial has also not begun but he is being treated as if he has committed the crime,” said father.
The accused, who is lodged at observation home, Faridabad, was unaware of the decision, said Dinesh Yadav, superintendent.
“I haven’t received the order yet, though it will not make any difference on his stay here as the final verdict is awaited,” Yadav said.
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Yadav said the boy will write his Class 12 exams next year from open school.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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