Dehradun, April 3 -- Uttarakhand High Court has stayed further proceedings in a case related to a minor accused kidnapping a minor girl, observing that both the accused and the alleged victim are around 15 years old and had been friends for several years. The order was passed by justice Alok Mahra on Wednesday while hearing a petition challenging proceedings pending before the juvenile justice board in Dehradun. According to Abhijay Negi, counsel of the applicant, the girl's father had lodged an FIR alleging that the boy kidnapped his daughter. Following investigation, police filed a charge sheet against the boy. During the hearing, counsel for the applicant argued that in her statement recorded under Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the girl denied having any physical relationship with the boy but stated that they had been friends for about four years. However, in her statement recorded before a magistrate under section 183 of the same law, she stated that she had invited the boy to her house and later admitted that they had engaged in a consensual physical relationship. The HC order stated that "However, in her statement recorded before the Magistrate under Section 183 of BNSS, she has admitted that they engaged in physical relations, which were consensual. Medical examination revealed no evidence of forceful sexual intercourse". The applicant's counsel submitted that since both individuals are adolescents of nearly the same age, keeping the boy in an observation home as a child in conflict with law could adversely affect his future prospects. The court noted in its order, "Both the victim and the applicant are approximately 15 years old, are adolescents, and have a longstanding friendship, it is submitted that directing the applicant to be kept as a child in conflict with law in an Observation Home may have an adverse impact on his future prospects"....