In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that injuries to the victim’s private parts are not necessary to prove rape.
This decision came in a case dating back to 1984, where a schoolgirl was sexually assaulted by her tuition teacher.
The bench, led by Justices Sandeep Mehta and Prasanna, rejected the defense’s claim that the absence of such injuries made the charges unproven.
Court’s Interpretation Of Evidence
The court emphasized that while the medical report did not show any visible injuries, other available evidence supported the conviction.
The bench clarified that the absence of injuries to private parts does not weaken the prosecution’s case if there is other compelling evidence.
It also asserted that the victim’s testimony holds substantial weight in such cases.
The defense had also argued that the victim was falsely accusing the teacher of rape.
The court dismissed this argument, stating that there was no apparent reason for the victim to fabricate such serious allegations against the teacher.
The court noted that there was no motive to file a false case, particularly to harm the teacher’s reputation.
Details Of The 1984 Incident
The incident occurred on March 19, 1984, when the victim, a schoolgirl, went for her usual tuition classes.
The teacher locked the door after sending the other two girls outside and assaulted the victim.
During this period, the other girls outside the room kept knocking, but the teacher refused to open the door.
Eventually, the victim’s grandmother arrived and rescued her.
Despite facing threats and intimidation, the victim’s family filed an FIR, and the case proceeded to trial.
The case took several years to reach a conclusion. In 1986, the trial court convicted the teacher, but it took the high court 26 years to confirm the verdict.
Eventually, the case reached the Supreme Court, where the decision was delivered after 15 years of proceedings.
This ruling sends a clear message regarding the weight of a victim’s testimony and the sufficiency of circumstantial evidence in cases of sexual assault.
The judgment highlights the need for courts to focus on the overall evidence rather than on any singular aspect, like physical injuries, when determining guilt.
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