Section 10A in The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016
10A. Preliminary assessment into heinous offenses by Board.
(1)The Board shall in the first instance determine whether the child is of sixteen years of age or above; if not, it shall proceed as per provisions of section 14 of the Act.(2)For the purpose of conducting a preliminary assessment in case of heinous offenses, the Board may take the assistance of psychologists or psycho-social workers or other experts who have experience of working with children in difficult circumstances. A panel of such experts may be made available by the District Child Protection Unit, whose assistance can be taken by the Board or could be accessed independently.(3)While making the preliminary assessment, the child shall be presumed to be innocent unless proved otherwise.(4)Where the Board, after preliminary assessment under section 15 of the Act, passes an order that there is a need for trial of the said child as an adult, it shall assign reasons for the same and the copy of the order shall be provided to the child forthwith.
