2016 Supreme(Del) 3028
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
MUKTA GUPTA, J.
Kazeem @ Bunty - Appellant
Versus
State - Respondent
Crl.A 1245 of 2015
Decided On : 17-08-2016
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Ms. Saahila Lamba
For the Respondent: Ms. Rajni Gupta
The main legal point established in the judgment is the reliance on the evidence of the prosecutrix, school records, and medical examination to establish the commission of offences punishable under Section 6 of the POCSO Act.
Headnote:
POCSO Act - Conviction under Section 6 - Section 6 of POCSO Act - Summary of Acts and Sections: POCSO Act, 2012 (Section 6) - The court discussed the applicability of Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and its relation to the conviction of the appellant. The court considered the evidence regarding the age of the prosecutrix and her medical examination to establish the commission of offences punishable under Section 6 of the POCSO Act.
Fact of the Case:
The appellant was convicted for the offence punishable under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) and Section 376(2)(i) IPC based on the abduction and repeated sexual acts with a minor girl.
Finding of the Court:
The court found the appellant guilty of offences punishable under Section 376(2)(i) IPC and Section 6 POCSO Act based on the evidence of the prosecutrix, her medical examination, and the age proof provided by the school records.
Issues: The issues included the credibility of the prosecutrix's testimony, the proof of the prosecutrix's age, and the applicability of Section 6 of the POCSO Act.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the evidence of the prosecutrix, the school records proving her age, and her medical examination to establish the commission of offences punishable under Section 6 of the POCSO Act.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and the appellant's conviction under Section 6 of the POCSO Act was upheld.
Mukta Gupta, J.
1. By the instant appeal the appellant Kazeem @ Bunty challenges the impugned judgment dated 13th October, 2014 whereby he has been convicted for the offence punishable under Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (in short ‘POCSO Act’) in FIR No. 401/2012 registered at PS Madhu Vihar and the order on sentence dated 21st October, 2014 directing him to undergo imprisonment for a period of ten years and to pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-in default to undergo simple imprisonment for three months for the offence punishable under Section 6 of POCSO Act. The learned Trial Court disbelieved the prosecutrix qua the offence of kidnapping as there was no enticement but since she was a child and not legally entitled to consent for sexual intercourse, the appellant was held guilty of offences punishable under Section 376(2)(i) IPC and 6 POCSO Act. In view of Section 42 POCSO Act, the appellant was convicted and sentenced for offence punishable under Section 6 POCSO Act.
2. Briefly the prosecution case is that Kishan Kumar, PW-1 went to the police station and lodged the complaint with SI Raj Pal, PW-7 stating that on 26th November, 2012 around 7:00 A.M. his cousin aged 14 years left for Rajkiya Sarvodya Kanya Vidhyalaya but neither did she reach the school nor did she return home. PW-1 suspected that some unknown person has taken her away after enticing her. On the basis of this statement, rukka was prepared and FIR was lodged under Section 363 IPC. On 28November, 2012, PW-7 SI Raj Pal received information from a secret informer that that the prosecutrix PW-2 was present at Jeevan Garh Colony under PS Kuwarsi Aligarh. PW-7 along with Ct. Satender and Amit, brother of the prosecutrix went to the PS Kuwarsi. On 29th November, 2012, they along with the local police went to Gali No. 1, Jeevan Garh Colony where they found the appellant and the prosecutrix in the kitchen and at that time they both were without clothes. The appellant was arrested. Both were brought to Delhi and were medically examined. After investigation, the charge sheet was filed. Charges were framed under Section 363/366/376(2)(i) IPC and Section 6 of POCSO Act. Thereafter, the statement of the prosecutrix and the witnesses were recorded.
3. Learned counsel for the appellant contends that there is no discussion as to how Section 6 of POCSO Act has been made out. It is also contended that when the testimony of the prosecutrix is disbelieved qua kidnapping, how it can be believed that repeated sexual acts took place. Furthermore, there was no documentary proof with respect to the age of the prosecutrix.
4. Learned APP for the State on the other hand contends that the age of the prosecutrix was proved by the admission and withdrawal register exhibited as Ex. PW-5/A and the school leaving certificate Ex. PW-5/B. The evidence of the prosecutrix is corroborated by the MLC of the prosecutrix.
5. Kishan Kumar, the complainant, was examined as PW-1. He stated that the prosecutrix was staying with them to take care of his aged mother. He further stated that he reported the matter to the police when the prosecutrix went missing. He along with the police officials had gone to Aligarh, UP and the prosecutrix was recovered from the house of the appellant’s sister and the appellant was also present there. During his cross-examination, PW-1 stated that when they reached the place of incident, he along with his friend Rajesh and the driver was sitting in the car parked in front of the appellant’s house and the investigating officer along with other police officials had entered the house. He denied the suggestion that he used to beat the prosecutrix, because of which she left the house one day and herself returned back.
6. The prosecutrix was examined as PW-2. She stated that the appellant, who was residing in the adjoining street, used to visit their house for taking water when the water motor in his house was not in order. She stated that on 26th Nove