The court upheld minimum mandatory sentences for sexual offences against minors, emphasizing no discretion in reducing sentences despite the circumstances.

JUDGMENT

Meenakshi Madan Rai, J. - The Appellant was convicted of the offences under Section 376(2)(n) and Section 376(3) of the INDIAN PENAL CODE , 1860 (hereinafter, the 'IPC'), with Section 5 (j)(ii) and Section 5 (l), punishable under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (hereinafter the 'POCSO' Act), vide the Judgment dated 15-07-2021, in Sessions Trial (POCSO) Case No.07 of 2020, by the Court of Learned Special Judge (POCSO), West Sikkim, at Gyalshing.

2. The Order on Sentence dated 16-07-2021, meted out the following to the Appellant;

'a. For commission of the offence under Section 376(2)(n), IPC, 1860, the convict is sentenced to undergo RI of the minimum sentence prescribed, of a term of 10 years and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/-. In default of payment of fine, the convict shall undergo RI for one year.

b. for commission of the offence under Section 376(3), IPC, 1860 the convict is sentenced to undergo RI for the minimum sentence prescribed, of a term of 20 years and to pay a fine of Rs.10,000/-. In default of payment of fine, the convict shall undergo RI for two years.

c. for commission of offence as defined under Section 5 (j)(ii) punishable under Section 6 of POCSO (Amendment) Act, 2019 the convict is sentenced to undergo RI for the minimum sentence prescribed, of a term of 20 years and to pay a fine of Rs.10,000/-. In default of payment of fine, the convict shall undergo RI for two years.

d. for commission of offence as defined under Section 5 (l) punishable under Section 6 of the POCSO (Amendment) Act, 2019, the convict is sentenced to undergo RI for the minimum sentence prescribed, of a term of 20 years and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/-. In default of payment of fine, the convict shall undergo RI for one year.

6. All of the above sentences shall run concurrently. However, the period of sentence already undergone by the convict during investigation and trial shall be set off against this sentence of imprisonment as provided under Section 428 , Cr.PC, 1973.

7. The fine paid shall be paid to the victim to meet the medical expenses incurred during the pregnancy and birth of the child by the victim and for her rehabilitation, as provided under sub-section (2) of Section 6 of the POCSO (Amendment) Act, 2019.'

3. The limited challenge in this Appeal is to the length of incarceration meted out to the Appellant by the Learned Trial Court under the various provisions of law for which he was convicted. Learned Senior Counsel for the Appellant submits that he does not assail the Judgment of conviction but is only aggrieved by the Sentence handed out to the Appellant which is inequitable and harsh, considering that a child was born from the relationship as proved by Exhibit 19. That, the child and the mother the alleged victim, are suffering on account of the absence of the care and protection of the Appellant as presently there is no one to provide for them. That, infact both, the Appellant then aged twenty seven years and the victim who was sixteen years, were in love and the sexual act was consensual but the case arose only on account of the First Information Report (hereinafter, the 'FIR'), Exhibit 7, that the father of the victim lodged, complaining of sexual assault on his daughter. Learned Senior Counsel for the Appellant sought for a reduction of the sentence to mitigate the sufferings of the victim.

4. Learned Public Prosecutor for the State-Respondent objected to the contentions put forth by Learned Senior Counsel for the Appellant on grounds that only the minimum sentence prescribed by law has been imposed, apart from which, consent of a minor is no consent and the submissions deserve an outright rejection.

5(i). Having he