The Kerala High Court on Wednesday, June 11, granted bail to six juveniles allegedly involved in the murder of 15-year-old Shahabas, a Class 10 student from Kozhikode.

The order was passed by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas in Bail Application No. 6291/2025 and connected matters.

While the detailed order is awaited, the Court noted that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act does not permit the prolonged detention of juveniles in an observation home.

The juveniles were booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:

• Section 103(1) – Murder

• Section 126(2) – Wrongful restraint

• Sections 189, 191(2), 191(3) – Unlawful assembly and rioting

• Section 118(2) – Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt

• Section 190 – Common object offences

The prosecution alleges that Shahabas was fatally assaulted by fellow tuition mates, all minors, leading to his death. The case had previously seen bail applications rejected, but the present relief was granted in light of the statutory safeguards under juvenile law.