JUDGMENT :

1. In the wake of instant surge in COVID – 19 cases and spread of its highly infectious Omicron variant, abundant caution is being maintained, while hearing the matters in the Court, for the safety of all concerned.

2. In the present criminal appeal preferred by the appellant-State, a challenge is laid to the judgment dated 30.03.1993 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ratangarh in Sessions Case No.21/92 (12/89), whereby the accused-respondent was acquitted from the charges levelled against him for the offences under Sections 376, 357 & 114 IPC.

3. Learned Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the appellant-State submits that a verbal report was lodged by complainant-Smt. Aasi (also referred to as ‘prosecutrix’) before the Police Station, Dungargarh, to the effect that two years prior to lodging of the said report, upon the death of her father-in-law, her husband borrowed a sum of Rs.500/-from the accused respondent Meghnath; in lieu of such loan, the complainant alongwith her husband worked in the field of the accused-respondent, so as to enable them to repay the said amount, which they successfully repaid accordingly.

3.1 Learned Public Prosecutor furt