"He is incorrigible! Just incorrigible," the Court remarked sternly.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant bail to a juvenile accused in four identical criminal cases, emphasizing that repeat offenders cannot evade the law based on age alone.

A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan noted the minor’s repeated involvement in serious offences, calling his behavior "incorrigible."

"He is incorrigible! Just incorrigible," the Court remarked sternly. The judges asserted that juvenile status cannot be a shield for habitual offenders. "He must understand the consequences of his actions. In the name of being a juvenile, he cannot continue looting people. In fact, he should not have been treated as a juvenile in the first place. These are serious offences, and yet, every time they escape punishment under juvenile laws," the Court observed.

The case pertains to extortion and criminal intimidation, for which the Rajasthan High Court had previously denied the juvenile bail. Notably, he was already out on bail in three other cases.

Although the Court acknowledged that the accused had been in custody for over 1 year and 8 months, it maintained that it would not exercise discretion in his favor. "If the juvenile court finds him guilty, the maximum sentence he can receive is three years. However, we are not inclined to grant him bail at this stage," the Supreme Court stated.

Further, the Court pointed out delays in the trial process, as charges had been framed but witnesses failed to appear before the juvenile court.

"If witnesses are not appearing, it raises concerns about the petitioner’s right to a speedy trial. It is the presiding officer’s duty to ensure that the prosecution presents the witnesses," the Court directed.

Given the decision to deny bail, the Supreme Court ordered a swift trial and set a four-month deadline for completion.

"The trial court must expedite proceedings and, if necessary, conduct hearings on a day-to-day basis," the bench ruled.