Bone Ossification Test

What is Bone Ossification Test ?

• It is a medical procedure that analyses bones in order to determine age.
• It involves taking X-rays of certain bones in the body, such as the clavicle, sternum and pelvis to assess skeletal development.
• The results are compared to standard growth benchmarks to estimate age.
• These bones are chosen because they tend to undergo the most dramatic changes in their form as a person ages.
• Ossification is the process of bone formation that occurs in humans from infancy until the end of their adolescent stage.

Significance of Age Determination

• In India, individuals under 18 years are considered minors. The legal system distinguishes between children and adults in terms of procedures, rehabilitation, and punishment.
• Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, minors cannot be incarcerated in adult facilities.
• Instead, they are subject to rehabilitative measures overseen by a Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), which may include options such as admonition/warning or a maximum of 3 years in a specialised facility for offences.
• A 2021 amendment to the JJ act mandates that for minors over the age of 16 accused of serious crimes, which carry a minimum sentence of 7 years, a preliminary evaluation of their mental and physical capacity is necessary before determining whether they should be tried as adults.

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