SC shows leniency in POCSO conviction, refrains from sentencing convict married to victim, here’s why
At the time of the offence, the man was 24 years old and was convicted for having a sexual relationship with a minor. However, after the girl attained adulthood, the two got married. The couple is now living together and raising their child. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday opted not to impose a sentence on a man convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The decision was driven by the Court’s assessment that the victim, now an adult, did not view the incident as a crime, and that the greater trauma stemmed from the legal and societal aftermath rather than the act itself. The top court observed that although the incident qualifies as a legal offence, the victim’s perception diverged from the statutory interpretation. According to the Court-appointed committee’s final report, the distress endured by the victim was largely due to her experiences with law enforcement, the court process, and her struggle to protect the accused. At the time of the offence, the man was 24 years old …
