Question:medium

Read the following statements and choose the correct option. Statement I: Ossification test is the final test to analyze bone fusion for estimating the age of a juvenile as per law. Statement II: Statutory documents like a birth certificate will be given precedence to determine the juvenile. In the context of the above statements under the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, which one of the following options is correct?

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Age Determination Hierarchy: (1) Birth Certificate / Matriculation Certificate > (2) Municipal Birth Record > (3) Ossification Test (as a last resort). Never mistake the medical test for the primary evidence!
Updated On: Jun 8, 2026
  • Only Statement II is true
  • Both Statements I and II are false
  • Both Statements I and II are true
  • Only Statement I is true
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Read the two statements.
Statement I says the ossification test (a bone fusion test) is the final test to decide a juvenile's age. Statement II says statutory documents like a birth certificate get precedence in deciding age. We must judge which are true.

Step 2: Understand age determination.
When deciding if a person is a juvenile, the law follows a clear order of preference. It trusts reliable documents first and turns to medical tests only when documents are missing.

Step 3: Test Statement I.
The ossification test is only a supporting medical estimate, and it gives an age range, not an exact final answer. It is used when documents are not available. So calling it the final test is wrong. Statement I is false.

Step 4: Test Statement II.
Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, a birth certificate from the school or municipal authority is given precedence over medical tests like ossification. So Statement II is true.

Step 5: Combine the findings.
Statement I is false and Statement II is true. So only Statement II is true.

Step 6: Eliminate the wrong options.
Both false is wrong because II is true. Both true is wrong because I is false. Only Statement I is true is wrong because I is the false one. So the only fitting choice is that only Statement II is true.

Step 7: Final answer.
\[ \boxed{\text{Only Statement II is true}} \]
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