S. Muralidhar, J.

Foreword

1. There are cases that shock the judicial conscience. This is one. In our country studies have shown that a large number of instances of rape are by close family members. The victim silently suffers the ordeal for years on end. This is one such case of incestuous rape. The Appellant here has been held guilty by the trial Court of repeatedly raping his step-daughter over a period of eight years. The victim picked up courage to break her silence and go to the police on 23rd June 2015. By then she had given birth to two children, aged 6 and 3 years at the time. DNA tests have confirmed that the Appellant is their biological father.

2. By this judgment this Court affirms the judgment of the trial Court. This Court draws attention to the urgent need for a comprehensive scheme, preferably legislative, to address the needs of the victims of crime, which in this case includes not only the prosecutrix, but her children and the wife and children of the Appellant. Complete justice requires redressing the victim’s suffering even while punishing the criminal.

This appeal

3. The challenge in this appeal is to the impugned judgement dated 10th August 2016 of the l