TNN | Apr 3, 2014, 04.24 AM IST

LUCKNOW: Gaurav Shukla, the prime accused in Aashiana gang rape case, has challenged the March 21 order of the juvenile justice board declaring him a major at the time of the incident in 2005 before the district judge on Wednesday. The court set the hearing on April 5 to determine the question of appeal's admissibility. The accused has questioned the legality of the board which declared him a major.

Citing the rule 6 of Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Rules 2007, the accused has argued that the term of member of the board is three years. It can be extended only for once to the maximum period of three years. It has been pleaded that two members of the JJB- Dinesh Pandey and Dr Rashmi Rastogi have been holding the post for last eight years.

Thus, their continuation as members of the board after completion of six years was illegal and as such the order passed by the board on March 21 declaring him major is illegal. The accused also pleaded that the JJB did not consider his date of birth as mentioned in high school record according to which he was a juvenile on the day of incident.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Aashiana-rape-accused-challenges-juvenile-justice-boards-verdict/articleshow/33150696.cms