New Delhi, The Delhi High Court has upheld the 20-year jail term of a man for raping his minor stepdaughter, observing that guilt under the POCSO Act cannot be dismissed merely because the victim turned hostile, particularly when scientific evidence was available. HC upholds man’s conviction for stepdaughter’s rape, says victim turning hostile can’t dismiss case The high court said it considered it apposite to take notice of the plight of such victims, who are defenceless against pressure from their family members and are susceptible to influence. Nothing can justify a child being faced with the burden of shielding their perpetrator, it said. It noted that the victim may have retracted from her testimony due to fear of losing shelter, financial stability and the desire to preserve the family unit, especially when the accused is a caregiver or breadwinner. “A child who is confronted with the prospect of condemning someone who provides her shelter and financial stability is undoubtedly faced with a grave conflict. “The child’s instinct for survival coupled with the fear of ostracisation …