JUDGMENT

Dr. B.S. Chauhan, J.

1. This appeal has been preferred against the impugned judgment and order dated 28.1.2010, passed by the Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh in CRA No. 960-SB of 1998 by way of which, the High Court has affirmed the judgment and order of the Additional Sessions Judge, Karnal dated 13.11.1998 passed in Sessions Case No. 7 of 1995, by way of which the appellant stood convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 365 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as the `IPC’) and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years, alongwith a fine of Rs.2,000/- under Section 365 IPC; and rigorous imprisonment for a period of seven years, alongwith a fine of Rs.5,000/- under Section 376 IPC. Both the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

2. Facts and circumstances giving rise to this appeal are that:

A. The appellant and Geeta, prosecutrix, 19 years of age, student of 10+2 in Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Karnal, had known each other for some time. Appellant had been meeting her in front of her school in an attempt to develop intimate relations with her. On 10.5.1995, the appellant ind