JUDGMENT :

G.A. SANAP, J.

1. In this appeal, the appellant/accused has challenged the Judgment and order dated 21.07.2018 passed by the learned Special Judge in Special Criminal (Child) Case No. 33/2016, whereby the learned Judge convicted the appellant for the offence punishable under Section 376(2)(i), 354-A, 506 of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 6, 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual offences Act, 2012 (for short “POCSO Act”) and sentenced him to suffer life imprisonment. No separate sentence was awarded for the offence punishable under Section 354-A of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 6, 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act.

2. The facts are as follows:

In this case, there are three child victims aged about 5, 6 and 7 years respectively. In order to protect the identity of the victims, their names are masked in the Judgment. The victim children were ravished by the appellant in a span of one year. The mother of victim ‘A’ lodged a report of the incident at Jawaharnagar Police Station. On the basis of report, a crime bearing No. 81/2016 was registered against the appellant. The informant reported to the police that the appellant and three victims are residing in