The central legal point established in the judgment is the application of Section 366 IPC and Section 376 IPC in cases involving the age of the victim, consent, and lawful guardianship.

Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia, J.

1. The present appeal has been filed by Angrej Singh son of Deepu and his mother Smt. Mohindro, both residents of village Thana Police Station Pehowa against the judgment of Additional Sessions Judge, Kaithal, who held both Angrej Singh and Mohindro guilty for offences under section 336-A and further convicted Angrej Singh under 376 IPC. Both Angrej Singh and Mohindro were awarded five years rigorous imprisonment under section 366 IPC and were imposed a fine of Rs. 1000/- each, in default of payment of fine to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year. Angrej Singh was also convicted under section 376 IPC to undorgo seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 2000/-,in default of payment of fine to undergo one year rigorous imprisonment.

2. Both the appellants were named as accused in case FIR No. 33 dated 25.01.1996 registered at Police Station City Kaithal under Sections 366-A and 376 IPC. The FIR, in the present case, was lodged at the instance of Smt. Manbhari. It will be here to reproduce the FIR which has been reproduced by the trial Court in para 2 of the judgment :

"I am resident of Koth Patti Gamri Kaithal. I had two sons and five daughters. My youngest daughter is Sarbati and oldest one is Phoolwati. Sunehri Devi was younger daughter of Phoolwati, who was maried with Surjan son of Chhotu of village Hajwana. My daughter Sunehri gave birth to one daughter and one son and thereafter, she died. Her both children used to reside with me. However, son of Sunehri Devi was taken from me by his father but her daughter Omi Devi was has ben residing with me for the last 14-15 years. I am separate from my sons in lodging and boarding. Omi Devi prosecutrix is my grand daughter, she used to reside with me. For the last 10-15 days, I was away to my parents in village Road Ror P.S. Pehowa. On 21.1.1996, my son Gian Singh came to village Ror and told that on that day, at about 5.00 a.m., Omi had gone outside to fetch fodder for animals, but she did not return. On search for Omi Devi in the relations, she could not be traced out. I have suspicion that someone from the village has induced Omi Devi to go with him out of village. Till date, she could not be traced out. Today I have come along with Ramesh son of Ram Krishan Lamberdar and Raghbir son of Chhotu Ram to lodge the report".

3. After the above said FIR was investigated, a report under section 173 Cr.P.C. was submitted. PW-1 Dr. Jasmer Singh medico-legally examined Angrej Singh (appellant) and opined that he was able to perform sexual intercourse. He stated that MLR prepared by him is Ex.PA and he conducted the medical examination on the appellant (Ex.PB). ASI Gurmail Singh tendered his affidavit (Ex.PC). Constable Sultan Singh also tendered his affidavit (Ex.PD). Their affidavits being of formal nature, were to prove link evidence. PW-4 Sh. R.L. Sankhla was then posted as Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, who stated that he had recorded statement of Omi Devi under section 164 Cr.P.C. being Ex.PE on the application moved by the police (Ex.PE/1).

4. PW-5 Lajjawati head teacher of Government Primary School proved the school certificate (Ex.PG), in which date of birth of the prosecutrix Omi Devi is recorded as 5.1.1981. PW-6 Dr. R.L. Mittal, who made endorsement on the police application Ex.PH for conducting medical examination of Omi Devi from a lady doctor. PW-7 Rishi Pal, draftsman prepared the scaled site plan. Omi Devi appeared as PW-8. She stated in her statement that she was residing with her maternal grandmother and she knew both the accused. Accused Angrej Singh present in the Court was employed as labourer with Baljit Singh and agricultural land of her grandmother was beyond the land of Baljit Singh and she used to pass through the Kacha path adjoining the fields of Baljit Singh. About one year and five months ago, when she was returning from the fields with fodder (i.e. in the month of January 1996), both the accused met her in the