Allahabad High Court Upholds Juvenile Right to Be Forgotten

The Allahabad High Court on 29 May 2026 held that a conviction recorded against a person during juvenile age cannot operate as a legal bar to passport issuance. The division bench of Justices Ajit Kumar and Indrajeet Shukla treated the juvenile “right to be forgotten” as an absolute right under Section 24 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

Juvenile Justice and Record Erasure

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 contain provisions intended to remove the continuing legal effect of juvenile convictions. Section 24 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 deals with the effect of a juvenile’s conviction and the protection of future prospects. The statutory scheme seeks to prevent stigma from following a person into adulthood.

Passport Law and Personal Liberty

The case concerned a passport application rejected by the Regional Passport Officer, Lucknow, in March 2021 on the basis of an adverse police report. The rejection relied on a criminal case from the period when the petitioner, Mohd. Yunus Ansari, was a minor. The High Court linked the right to travel abroad with personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Judicial Directions in the Case

The Court quashed the passport rejection order and directed fresh consideration of the application. It ordered the authorities to ignore the juvenile conviction unless another legal impediment existed under passport law.

Important Facts for Exams

• Article 21 of the Constitution of India protects personal liberty and has been used in cases involving travel abroad.
• The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 is the principal law governing children in conflict with law in India.
• Section 24 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 deals with the effect of juvenile convictions and related records.
• The Regional Passport Officer functions under the Passports Act, 1967 and related rules for passport issuance in India.

The Allahabad High Court is one of the oldest high courts in India and has its principal seat at Prayagraj. The judgment was delivered by a division bench comprising Justices Ajit Kumar and Indrajeet Shukla.