Quick Summary: This case is about an appeal by Umesh Yadav and others against their conviction for serious crimes, including murder, in Bihar. The Supreme Court made important decisions about the people involved, focusing on claims of being underage and reconsidering sentences because a lot of time had passed.
Back in 1993, a trial court in Gaya found eight people, including Umesh Yadav, guilty of murder and related charges. They were sentenced to life in prison.
The convicted people challenged the trial court's decision in the High Court at Patna. However, the High Court agreed with the original conviction and sentence. During this appeal, three of the accused passed away, so their appeal ended.
Umesh Yadav and his brother Ganesh Yadav claimed for the first time in the Supreme Court that they were under 18 when the crime happened on August 30, 1988.
Ganesh Yadav's Case: The court ordered a bone test to find out his age. The test suggested he was 19, but with a two-year margin for error, he was considered underage at the time of the crime. Since he had already served over 8 years, he was ordered to be released.
Umesh Yadav's Case: Despite differences in age documents, as the older brother of Ganesh, it was decided that he was not underage during the crime.
Because more than 35 years had passed since the incident, the court thought about reducing the life sentences to a set number of years.
The appeal was partly allowed, changing the sentences of the appellants based on age considerations and the time that had passed since the crime.
"The appeal is partly allowed to the extent mentioned above. The impugned judgment of the High Court is modified accordingly."
