IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Decided on: 03.02.2026 Ravinder ……Appellant Versus State of Haryana ..…Respondent CORAM : HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICELISA GILL HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RAMESH CHANDER DIMRI Present:- Mr.Raghav Garg, Amicus Curiae.

Mr.Randeep S.Dhull, Advocate, for the appellant.

Mr.Dhruv Dayal, Addl.A.G., Haryana.

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Ramesh Chander Dimri, J.

1. Through the present appeal, the appellant/convict challenges the judgment of conviction dated 17.04.2014 and order of sentence dated 18.04.2014 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Sonepat in Sessions Case No.34 of 2014 titled as “State Vs. Ravinder”, arising out of FIR No.509 dated 13.11.2013 under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for brevity, ‘IPC’) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for brevity, ‘POCSO Act’), registered at Police Station Civil Lines, Sonepat through which, he was held guilty under Section 376(2)(i) IPC as well as Section 6 of the POCSO Act and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life with a direction to pay a fine of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty five thousands only) under Section 376(2)(i) IPC. In default of payment of fine, he was