HC asks trial court to ascertain age of Pakistani convict

New Delhi : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the trial court to determine the age of a Pakistani national undergoing life term under the now-lapsed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) for planning terrorist attacks and possessing firearms. The order came following a claim made by him that he was a minor at the time of his arrest in 1994.

Justice Mukta Gupta asked the trial court to conduct an inquiry to ascertain the age of the convict Khalid Mehmood through a medical board and file an ossification test report by May 30, the date of the next hearing. The trial court had convicted him under the provisions of the TADA in 1996.

Citing that an emergency passport was issued by Pakistani authorities on his request in 2010, Mehmood, a resident of Lahore, claimed he was below 18 years when police arrested him. His counsel claimed that Mehmood was studying in Class XI at the time of arrest and submitted that his client should get the relief under the Juvenile Justice Act.