ORDER

1. Heard the parties.

2. Leave granted.

3. Respondent 1 Raju was convicted by the trial court under Section 376 read with Section 511 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years and to pay fine of Rs 1000, in default, to undergo further imprisonment for a period of three months. On appeals being preferred, the High Court of Punjab and Haryana affirmed the conviction but reduced the sentence of imprisonment from three years to six months and directed to pay compensation of Rs 25,000. Hence, these appeals by special leave.

4. From the impugned orders, rendered by the High Court, it appears that the only ground for reduction of sentence was that the offence was committed twelve years ago and the prosecutrix had already been married. In the present case, the prosecutrix was seven years old at the time of commission of offence and we are of the view that the High Court was not justified in reducing the sentence of imprisonment.

5. Accordingly, the appeals are allowed and the impugned orders passed by the High Court reducing the sentence of imprisonment from three years to six months and awarding compensation of Rs 25,000 are