Gujarat High Court Criminal Manual (subordinate court practice), 1977
The correct determination of the age of a young offender is essential. As soon as such an offender is produced before a Magistrate, he should take steps to ascertain his age. The statement made by the accused person himself is not sufficient. The Magistrate should, therefore, ask the police to state his age and to produce evidence in support of their statement. The best evidence of age is the entry in the Births and Deaths Register. Where this is not available, the accused person should be got medically examined and a medical certificate obtained in regard to his age. A definite finding with regard to his age should be recorded in every case.