38.6c New Delhi, India, Thursday, October 09, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

'Tears have to be understood for what they are worth,' SC sets aside HC's judgment in child sexual assault case [Read Judgment]

By Jhanak Sharma      20 March, 2025 04:13 PM      0 Comments
Tears have to be understood for what they are worth SC sets aside HCs judgment in child sexual assault case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has held there is no hard and fast rule that a conviction cannot stand, in the absence of a statement by the victim in sexual assault cases.

Supreme Court Reverses HC’s Acquittal in Child Sexual Assault Case

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol said that a child victim of sexual assault, who failed to depose anything, besides shedding tears, can't be a basis for granting relief to the accused, when other evidence, medical and circumstantial, is available pointing to his guilt.

The court allowed the Rajasthan government's appeal against reversal of the conviction of respondent Chatra in the case related to sexual assault of a Class I student, registered on March 3, 1986.

Considering the appeal, the court said, the child witness (victim), it is true, has not deposed anything about the commission of the offence against her. When asked about the incident, the trial judge records that ‘V’ (name withheld) was silent, and upon being further asked, only shed silent tears and nothing more. So nothing could be elicited from the testimony regarding the commission of the offence.

"This, in our view, cannot be used as a factor in favour of the respondent. The tears of ‘V’, have to be understood for what they are worth. This silence cannot accrue to the benefit of the respondent. The silence here is that of a child. It cannot be equated with the silence of a fully realised adult prosecutrix, which again would have to be weighed in its own circumstances," the bench said.

The bench set aside the Rajasthan High Court's 2013 judgment which reversed the conviction and the sentence of seven years jail term to respondent Chatra.

The bench noted ‘V’ has not turned hostile in the case.

"Trauma has engulfed her in silence. It would be unfair to burden her young shoulders with the weight of the entire prosecution. A child traumatised at a tender age by this ghastly imposition upon her has to be relieved of being the basis on which her offender can be put behind bars," the bench said.

Tears of Child Victim as Valid Evidence in Sexual Assault Case

In almost all other cases,the testimony of the rape victim is present and forms an essential part of the conviction of an accused, but at the same time, there is no hard and fast rule that in the absence of such a statement a conviction cannot stand, particularly when other evidence, medical and circumstantial, is available pointing to such a conclusion, the bench said.

The court also emphasised the absence of evidence of the victim is, not in all cases, a negative to be accounted for in the prosecution case.

"It is a matter of great sadness that this minor girl and her family have to go through nearly four decades of life, waiting to close this horrific chapter of her/their lives," the court said.

The bench said nearly 40 years ago on March 3, 1986 happened an incident, that forever altered the trajectory of a minor girl’s life. She was discovered unconscious and bleeding from her private parts, by one Gulab Chand, after the respondent-accused had allegedly subjected her to sexual assault. The said Gulab Chand filed a report with the concerned police station on March 4, 1986.

On November 19, 1987, a Tonk court convicted the accused guilty and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment, on the basis of statement by Gulab Chand and the doctor, who conducted her medical examination. However, it took 26 years for the criminal appeal to be disposed of by the High Court.

"By way of a judgment running into all of six pages, the findings of guilt returned by the trial court were upturned and the respondent-accused was acquitted of the charges against him. Suffice it to say that we are surprised with the manner in which this matter was dealt with by the High Court," the bench said.

The court pointed out as the first appellate court, the High Court is expected to independently assess the evidence before it while confirming or disturbing the findings of the court below. This is the settled position of law, it stressed.

The court noted the High Court has revealed identity of the minor victim.

"We note with some surprise that the High Court has referred to the victim by name throughout. This court in judgments, going at least a decade further back from the date of the impugned judgment, has highlighted the importance of abiding by such a restriction, preserving the privacy of the unfortunate victim," the bench said.

[Read Judgment]



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS

pmla-appellate-tribunal-orders-immediate-release-of-seized-bmw-x7-in-hemant-soren-land-scam-case
Trending Crime, Police And Law
PMLA appellate tribunal orders immediate release of seized BMW X7 in Hemant Soren land scam case [Read Order]

PMLA tribunal orders ED to release seized BMW X7 in Hemant Soren land scam case, citing lack of proof linking the luxury car to money laundering.

08 October, 2025 08:06 PM
offence-under-category-of-upholding-family-prestige-sc-orders-release-of-man-on-remission
Trending Judiciary
'Offence under category of upholding family prestige,' SC orders release of man on remission [Read Judgment]

SC orders immediate release of life convict who served 22 years for a murder committed to uphold family honour, citing Maharashtra remission guidelines.

08 October, 2025 08:19 PM

TOP STORIES

allahabad-hc-refuses-interim-protection-to-sambhal-mosque-asks-petitioners-to-approach-appellate-court
Trending Judiciary
Allahabad HC Refuses Interim Protection to Sambhal Mosque, Asks Petitioners to Approach Appellate Court [Read Order]

Allahabad High Court refused interim protection to Sambhal mosque, directing petitioners to seek remedy before the appellate court under UP Revenue Code.

06 October, 2025 04:48 PM
calling-off-marriage-after-courtship-not-a-crime-or-breach-of-promise-delhi-hc
Trending Judiciary
Calling Off Marriage After Courtship Not A Crime Or Breach Of Promise: Delhi HC [Read Order]

Delhi High Court grants bail, ruling that ending marriage plans after courtship is not a breach of promise or offence under false promise to marry.

06 October, 2025 05:03 PM
celebrating-bail-on-social-media-not-ground-for-cancellation-without-specific-threat-to-complainant-delhi-hc
Trending Judiciary
Celebrating Bail On Social Media Not Ground For Cancellation Without Specific Threat To Complainant: Delhi HC [Read Order]

Delhi HC rules that celebrating bail on social media isn’t grounds for cancellation unless a specific threat or intimidation is proven.

06 October, 2025 05:25 PM
woman-cannot-claim-maintenance-after-securing-rape-conviction-against-live-in-partner-jammu-and-kashmir-hc
Trending Judiciary
Woman Cannot Claim Maintenance After Securing Rape Conviction Against Live-In Partner: Jammu & Kashmir HC [Read Order]

J&K High Court held that a woman who secured a rape conviction against her live-in partner cannot claim maintenance under Section 125 CrPC.

06 October, 2025 06:08 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email