Manikannan v. The State of Tamil Nadur Rep by the Inspector of Police ,

ORDER The present petition has been filed by A4 in Cr.No.152 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police seeking a direction to the learned Juvenile Justice Board, Madurai to consider the bail application of the petitioner on the date of his surrender.

2.Perusal of the records revealed that the petitioner is also implicated as one of the accused person in Cr.No.152 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police. The petitioner is a minor, therefore, he seeks to surrender before the Juvenile Justice Board, Madurai.

3.According to the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, the petitioner is going to pursue his ITI Course and therefore, he seeks a direction from this Court to the Juvenile Justice Board, Madurai to consider his bail application on the date of his surrender. He further submitted that his father had been granted bail by the learned Principal, District Judge, Madurai in Crl.M.P.No.3351 of 2026 on 16.07.2026 and his brother has already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court.

4.Considering the above submission, this Court is inclined to pass the following order: a) The petitioner shall appear before the learned Juvenile Justice Board, Madurai in connection with Cr.No.152 or 2026, within a period of one week from the date of receipt of copy of this order; b) The Juvenile Justice Board shall deal with the petitioner strictly in accordance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Model Rules. If a report from the Probation Officer is required, the same may be called for, however, pending such report and pending consideration of the bail petition, the Board shall bear in mind the principle stated in Minor S. Manojkumar v. State that the child need not be sent to an Observation Home as a matter of course, and that the Board may, as an interim measure, place the child in the care and custody of the parents/guardian, subject to such conditions as the Board deems fit. c) It is clarified that this Court is not granting anticipatory bail and this order shall not be construed as a direction to "release" the child in the sense disapproved by the Division Bench in K. Vignesh v. State. This order is confined to ensuring that the procedure adopted by the Board conforms to the statutory safeguards and does not result in routine interim detention.

4.With the aforesaid observations, this Criminal Original Petition stands disposed of.

20.07.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet: Yes/No PNM To

¶1The Juvenile Justice Board, Madurai

2.The Inspector of Police, Sholavandhan Police Station, Madurai District.

3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. R.VIJAYAKUMAR

, J.

PNM

Crl.OP.(MD)No.14723 of 2026

20.07.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 20.07.2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR Crl.OP.(MD)No.14723 of 2026 Manikannan ... Petitioner Vs The State of Tamil Nadur Rep, By the Inspector of Police, Sholavandhan Police Station, Madurai District. (In Crime No . 152/2026). ... Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of BNSS Act, to direct the learned Juvenile Justice Board, Madurai to consider the Bail application of the Minor Petitioner on his surrender on the same day, in crime No. 152of 2026 on the file of the respondent. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Vivek Kumar For Respondent : Mr.B.Arun Government Advocate (Crl.Side)