1 CGHC010267372026 2026:CGHC:41851 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR CRR No. 1000 of 2026 Juvenile In Conflict With Law (Details Of The Applicant Is Enclosed With Separate Envelop) ... Applicant. Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through District Magistrate, Raipur District Raipur C.G. ... Respondent. (cause title downloaded from CIS Periphery) For Applicant : Mr. Pragalbha Sharma, Advocate. For State : Mr. Vivek Mishra, Panel Lawyer. (Hon’ble Shri Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi ) Order on Board 25/09/2026 1. The present Criminal Revision has been preferred under Section 102 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (for short, “the Act, 2015”) against the impugned order dated 02.07.2026 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge (FTC), Raipur (C.G.) in Criminal Appeal No. 213/2026, whereby the order dated 29.05.2026 passed by the learned Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Mana Camp, Raipur (C.G.), rejecting the bail application of the applicant, has been affirmed. The applicant is a child in conflict with law in connection with Crime No. 329/2026 registered at Police Station Digitally signed by AJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI DN: cn=AJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI, ou=HIGH COURT, o=HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, st=Chhattisgarh, c=IN 2 D.D. Nagar, Raipur (C.G.) on for the offence punishable under Section 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short, “the NDPS Act”). 2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on 22.05.2026, the Assistant Sub- Inspector posted at Police Station D.D. Nagar, Raipur, received secret information from an informant that a female wearing a salwar suit was standing on a vacant plot near Uma’s house situated at Matkodwapara, Changorabhatha, and was carrying illicit ganja in a blue-coloured bag for the purpose of selling the same to customers. Acting upon the said information, the police team reached the spot and cordoned off the area. Thereafter, a search was conducted by a female constable, during which 1 kilogram 630 grams of ganja, valued at Rs.81,500/-, allegedly kept in a light-green polythene packet inside the blue bag, along with cash of Rs.2,500/-, was recovered and seized from the applicant/juvenile. Consequently, Crime No. 329/2026 was registered at Police Station D.D. Nagar, Raipur, for the offence punishable under Section 20(b) of the NDPS Act, and the applicant was apprehended on the same day, i.e. 22.05.2026. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the applicant submits that the applicant is a juvenile aged about 17 years and is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the case. It is further submitted that the alleged contraband was not recovered from the conscious possession of the applicant, but was allegedly seized from an open place near the house where the applicant was present. Learned counsel further submits that the applicant has remained in the Observation Home since the date of 3 of alleged incident and that both the Courts below have rejected her prayer for bail without properly considering the mandate of Section 12 of the Act, 2015. It is also submitted that the applicant has no criminal antecedents and that her continued stay in the Observation Home is likely to adversely affect her welfare and development. Learned counsel, therefore, submits that the case does not fall within any of the exceptions contemplated under Section 12 of the Act, 2015 and, hence, the applicant deserves to be released on bail. 4. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the State opposes the prayer for grant of bail and submits that the alleged contraband was recovered from the possession of the applicant and, therefore, the learned Courts below have committed no error in rejecting her prayer for bail. However, learned State counsel, fairly submits that, as reflected from the Social Investigation Report, the applicant has no criminal antecedents. 5. I have considered the rival submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties and have perused the case diary and social investigation report. 6. In the present case, the applicant is admittedly a juvenile aged about 17 years. The Social Investigation Report placed on record does not disclose any criminal antecedent of the applicant. Rather, the report indicates that her conduct and behaviour in the Observation Home have been good. There is also no material brought on record by the prosecution to demonstrate that, if released, the applicant is likely to come into association with any known criminal or that her release 4 would expose her to moral, physical or psychological danger. Likewise, there is no specific material at this stage to indicate that her release would defeat the ends of justice. 7. Having regard to the overall facts and circumstances of the case, the age of the applicant, the absence of any criminal antecedents, the Social Investigation Report, and particularly the statutory mandate contained in Section 12 of the Act, 2015, this Court is of the considered view that there are no reasonable grounds at this stage to believe that the release of the applicant is likely to bring her into association with any known criminal, expose her to moral, physical or psychological danger, or that her release would otherwise defeat the ends of justice. Consequently, the applicant is entitled to the benefit of bail. 8. Accordingly, the impugned order dated 02.07.2026 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge (FTC), Raipur (C.G.) in Criminal Appeal No. 213/2026, affirming the order dated 29.05.2026 passed by the learned Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Mana Camp, Raipur (C.G.), rejecting the bail application of the applicant, is hereby set aside. 9. It is directed that, if the mother or father of the applicant/juvenile furnishes their personal bail bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- along with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Juvenile Justice Board, Raipur, with an undertaking to produce the applicant before the Board as and when directed, the applicant shall be released from the Observation Home and be placed in the custody of her parents. 10. The parents of the applicant shall ensure her proper care, protection, 5 education and welfare and shall also ensure her appearance before the Juvenile Justice Board on each date fixed by it. The Juvenile Justice Board shall also ensure the welfare of the applicant and her continued participation in the proceedings. 11. Accordingly, the Criminal Revision is allowed. Sd/- (Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi) Judge Ajay