J U D G M E N T

Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by Sanjay Kumar Date: 2024.09.23 Reason:

J.B. PARDIWALA, J.:

For the convenience of exposition, this judgment is divided into the following parts: -

INDEX A. FACTUAL MATRIX ................................................................................ 4 B. IMPUGNED ORDER .............................................................................. 10 C. SUBMISSIONS OF THE PARTIES ...................................................... 16 i. Submissions on behalf of the Appellants. .................................................... 16 ii. Submissions on behalf of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). .......................................................................................... 18 iii. Submissions on behalf of the respondent no. 1 / the Sole Accused. ............ 20 iv. Submissions on behalf of the respondent nos. 2 & 3 / the State. ................. 22 D. ISSUES FOR DETERMINATION ......................................................... 24 E. ANALYSIS ............................................................................................... 25 i. Relevant Statutory Scheme and Provisio