Child in Conflict With Law A v. State of Punjab

CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -1-o InotheoHighoCourtoofoPunjaboandoHaryanaoatoChandigarho o o o o o o o o o o o CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o Reservedoon:o24.4.2023o o o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:o2.5.2023o o ChildoinoConflictowithoLawo"A"o o o o o ......Appellanto o Versuso o StateoofoPunjabo o o o o o o ooooooo......Respondento o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSURESHWARoTHAKURo ooooooooooooooooooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoKULDEEPoTIWARIoo oo Present:o Mr.oButaoSinghoBairagi,oAdvocateo o o forotheoappellant.o o o o Ms.oMonikaoJalota,oSr.oDAG,oPunjab.o o o o oooooooo****o SURESHWARoTHAKUR,oJ.oo

1.o oFIRo bearingo No.o 152,o whicho becomeso enclosedo ino Ex.o P-6,o becameo registeredo witho Policeo Stationo Badhanio Kalan,o Districto Moga,o carryingothereinsooffences,oembodiedounderoSectionso354,o354-A,o354-B,o506o ofotheoIPC,oand,ounderoSectiono8oofotheoProtectionoofoChildrenofromoSexualo OffencesoAct,o2012o(foroshorto'POCSOoAct,o2012')o(offencesounderoSectiono 376-ABoIPC,oand,ounderoSectionoSectiono6oofotheoPOCSOoAct,o2012oActo addedolateroon).oTheooffenderoinotheoFIRo(supra)owasoaojuvenileoinoconflicto witholaw.ooThus,oinoanoorderomadeoono20.1.2022,obyotheolearnedoPrincipalo Magistrate,oJuvenileoJusticeoBoard,oMoga,oaoconclusionobecameomade,othato theo juvenileo ino conflicto witho law,o iso ableo too understando theo nature,o and,o consequenceso ofo theo offences,o aso wello as,o theo circumstanceso ino whicho heo allegedlyocommittedothen.oTheosaidoconclusionowasofounded,ouponoaoprimaryo assessmento regardingo theo physical,o and,o mentalo capacityo ofo theo juvenileo concerned.o Thus,o bearingo ino mindo theo inquiryo (supra),o as,o madeo byo theo Principalo Magistrate,o Juvenileo Justiceo Board,o Moga,o resultedo ino ano ordero (supra),o beingo drawno byo him,o ono 20.1.2022.o Therefore,o theo Courto ofo theo CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -2-o AdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oFastoTrackoSpecialoJudge,oMoga,owhichois,othusoao Children'soCourt,oasodefinedoinoSectiono19oofotheoJuvenileoJusticeo(Careoando ProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015o(foroshorto'theoActoofo2015),oand,oRuleo13o ofotheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oModeloRules,o2016o (foro shorto 'Ruleso ofo 2016'),o inasmucho as,o ito becomeso assignedo theo jurisdictionalocompetenceotootryotheooffence(s)ounderotheoPOCSOoAct,o2012,o resultantlyomadeoanoopinion,othatothereoisoaorequirementoofotrialobecomingo enteredointooagainstotheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholawoquaooffenceso(supra),o ratheroasoanoadultoperson,othusoinotermsoofotheoprovisionsoofotheoCodeoofo CriminaloProcedure.ooFurthermore,otheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,owhoohado admittedlyocompletedo16oyearsoofoage,oatotheotimeoofohisoallegedlyocommittingo theo offenceso (supra).o o Resultantly,o video ordero madeo ono 2.3.2022,o byo theo learnedoCourtoofotheoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oFastoTrackoSpecialoJudge,o Moga,owhichobecameodesignatedoforoentering,ouponotrial,oupon,oaojuvenileoino conflictowitholaw,oratheroasoanoadult,othusoinotermsoofotheoprovisionsoofotheo Cr.P.C.,o especiallyo wheno heo committedo ano offenceo punishableo undero theo POCSOoAct,oitobecameodirectedothatotheojuvenileoconcerned,obeotriedoasoano adult.o FactualoBackgroundo

2.o o Theogenesisoofotheoprosecutionocaseobecomesoembodiedoinotheo appealoFIR,otoowhichoEx.oP6oisoassigned.oTheonarrationsocarriedoinoEx.oP6o are,othatoono10.11.2021,oSIoGurvinderoKauroalongowithoLCoJatinderoKaurowaso presentoatoPoliceoStation,owhereocomplainantoBalviroKaur,omotheroofovictimo along-withoherohusbandoGurtejoSinghohadocomeopresent,oand,ogotorecordedo herostatement,othatosheoisohavingofourodaughters.oHerodaughter/victimoisohero secondodaughter.oHerodaughter/victim,oagedosevenoyearsoisostudyingoino2ndo classoatoGovernmentoPrimaryoSchool,oBhode.oHerodaughter/victimousedotoo I attest to the accuracy andtakeotuitionofromoAmanatoKaurodaughteroofoManjitoSingh,owhooisoresidingoino CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -3-o theironeighborhood.oOno2.11.2021oatoabouto5.00oP.M.,osheoheardotheosoundoofo criesoandoweepingoofoherodaughter/victimowhileosheowasogoingotoothrowotheo garbage,oand,opassingoinofrontoofotheohouseoofoAmanatoKaur.oThereafter,osheo wento insideo theo saido houseo too knowo theo reasono abouto theo crieso ofo hero daughter/victim.oOnoheroasking,oherodaughter/victimotoldoher,othatosheohado goneoforourinationotowardsotheosideoofoanimals.oChildoinoconflictowitholawo'A'o calledoherotootakeochocolate,oand,otookoherotowardsotheobathroomobuiltoinotheo kothi.oChildoinoconflictowitholawo'A'opulledoherounderwearoandoalsoopulledohiso loweroandoaskedoforosuckingoofohisopenis,oand,othreatenedoherothatoifosheotellso aboutotheoincidentotooanyone,oheowillokilloher.oThenochildoinoconflictowitholawo 'A'oputohisopenisoonoheroanus.oSheostartedoweeping.oOnohearingothis,osheogoto perplexed.oPinkyoKaur,oauntoandomotheroGurjotoKauroofochildoinoconflictowitho lawo'A'oalsoocameoatotheospot.oSheocomplainedothem,obutotheyodidonotolistenotoo her.oSheoalongowithoherodaughterocameobackotootheirohouse.oInotheonight,osheo toldotheoincidentotooherohusband.oWhenoherohusbandovisitedohouseoofochildoino conflictowitholawo'A'otoolodgeocomplaint,ohisofamilyomembersoassaultedoando abusedo hero husband.o Panchayatso wereo alsoo convened,o buto too noo avail.o Thereafter,osheohadocomeotooreportotheomatterotootheopolice.oo Investigationoproceedingso

3.o o Onotheobasisoofotheoaboveostatement,oSIoGurwinderoKauromadeo policeoproceedings,oonotheobasisoofowhich,oFIRounderoSectionso354,354-Ao 354-B,o506oIPCoando8oofoPOCSOoAct,o2012owasoregistered.oOno10.11.2021o atoabouto2.20op.m.,osheoalongowithoASIoRaghvinderoParshadovisitedospot,oand,o preparedo rougho siteo plano ato theo instanceo ofo complainant.o Sheo recordedo statementoofotheowitnesses.oVictim,oagedo7oyears,owasoproducedobeforeotheo Magistrateoconcerned,ofororecordingoherostatementounderoSectiono164oCr.P.C.o 2023.05.04 09:42 Ono11.11.2021,ochildoinoconflictowitholawo'A'owasoapprehended.oAsoperobirtho CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -4-o certificateoofovictim,oherodateoofobirthoiso27.06.2014owhereas,oasoperobirtho certificateoofochildoinoconflictowitholawo'A',ohisodateoofobirthoiso15.03.2004.o Childo ino conflicto witho lawo 'A'o waso producedo beforeo Shrio Rahulo Garg,o PrincipaloMagistrate,oJuvenileoJusticeoBoard,oMoga.oOnotheobasisooforemarkso givenobyoDistrictoAttorneyooffice,ooffenceounderoSectiono376-ABoIPCoando undero Sectiono 6o ofo POCSOo Acto wereo added.o SIo Gurwindero Kauro goto conductedomedicaloexaminationoofovictimofromoCiviloHospital,oMoga,obuto motheroofotheovictimorefusedoforogivingovaginaloswabsoforoDNAoanalysis.o Onlyobloodosamplesoofochildoinoconflictowitholawo'A'osentoforoDNAoanalysis,o butoasothereowasonoocounterosampleoforocomparison,othe-obloodosampleowaso returnedo backo byo theo Forensico Scienceo Laboratoryo too theo police.o Ono conclusionoofoinvestigation,ofinaloreportounderoSectiono173oCr.P.C.oagainsto childoinoconflictowitholawo'A'owasopreparedoandopresentedobeforeotheoPrincipalo Magistrate,o Juvenileo Justiceo Board.o Aftero presentationo ofo enquiryo reporto beforeoPrincipaloMagistrate,oJuvenileoJusticeoBoard,oitsocopiesowereosuppliedo toochildoinoconflictowitholawo"A'oasoenvisagedounderoSectiono207oCr.P.C."o ProceedingsobeforeotheoPrincipaloMagistrate,oJuvenileoo JusticeoBoard,oMogao

4.o o TheolearnedoPrincipaloMagistrateoconcerned,ovideoorderodatedo

20.1.2022,o aftero conductingo preliminaryo assessment,o sento theo caseo too theo learnedoSessionsoJudge,oMogaowithotheorequestothatotheochildoinoconflictowitho lawo"A"oisotoobeotreatedoasoanoadultounderoSectiono18(3)oofotheoActoofo2015.o Thereaftero theo learnedo Sessionso Judge,o Mogao entrustedo theo caseo too theo learnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned.oo TrialoProceedingso

5.o o Ino proofo ofo itso case,o theo prosecutiono examinedo 11o witnesses,o and,o thereaftero theo learnedo Publico Prosecutoro concerned,o closedo theo 2023.05.04 09:42 prosecutionoevidence.oAfterotheoclosureoofoprosecutionoevidence,otheolearnedo CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -5-o trialoJudgeoconcerned,odrewoproceedings,ounderoSectiono313oofotheoCr.P.C.,o butothereins,otheoaccusedopleadedoinnocence,oand,oclaimedofalseoimplication.o Heoalsoochoseotooadduceodefenceoevidence,obutodidonotoleadoanyodefenceo witnessointootheowitnessobox.o

6.o o Afterotheotrial,oasobecameoenteredointooagainstotheojuvenileoino conflicto witho law,o byo theo learnedo Additionalo Sessionso Judge,o Fasto Tracko SpecialoCourt,oMoga,oaoverdictoofoconvictionowasomadeouponotheoappellanto ono30.8.2022,oquaotheoaboveochargesoforooffencesopunishableounderoSectiono 506oofotheoIPC,oand,ounderoSectiono6oofotheoPOCSOoAct,o2012.ooHowever,o sinceoatotheotimeoofotheoverdictoofoconviction,obeingomade,ouponotheojuvenileo inoconflictowitholaw,oono30.8.2022,oheowasobelowotheoageoofo21oyears,oand,o hadonotoattainedotheoageoofo21oyears,othusoinotermsoofoRuleo13(8)(iii)oofotheo Rulesoofo2016,oheowasoorderedotoobeosentotootheoplaceoofosafetyoatoFaridkot,o and,owasoorderedotoobeoproducedoono31.8.2022,oforohisobeingoheardoonotheo finalodispositionaloorder,oand,oawaitingodrawingoofoanoindividualocareoplan.o

7.o o Ono theo productiono ofo theo juvenileo ino conflicto witho law,o ono

31.8.2022,o beforeo theo learnedo trialo Judgeo concerned,o ao finalo dispositionalo ordero waso made,o wherebyo heo waso sentencedo too undergoo rigorouso imprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofooneoyear,oand,oalsootoopayoaofine,oasocomprisedo ino ao sumo ofo Rs.o 1,000/-,o besideso ino defaulto ofo paymento ofo fine,o heo waso sentencedotooundergoorigorousoimprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofofifteenodays,oino respectoofoanooffenceopunishableounderoSectiono506oofotheoIPC.oMoreover,oheo wasoalsoosentencedotooundergoorigorousoforoaotermoofo20oyears,oand,oalsootoo payoaofineoofoRs.o50,000/-,obesidesoinodefaultoofopaymentoofofine,oheowaso sentencedotoorigorousoimprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofooneoyear,oinorespectoofoano offenceopunishableounderoSectiono6oofotheoPOCSOoAct,o2012.ooInoaddition,o 2023.05.04 09:42 allotheosentenceowereoorderedotoorunoconcurrently.ooMoreover,otheoperiodoofo CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -6-o detentionoalreadyoundergoneobyotheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,owas,oino termso ofo Sectiono 428o ofo theo Cr.P.C.,o rathero orderedo too beo seto off,o and,o adjustedotowardsotheoaboveoimposedoterm(s)oofosubstantiveosentence(s)oofo imprisonment.oooFurthermore,ooutoofotheototalofineoamount,oanoamountoofoooooooooooooo Rs.o10,000/-owasoorderedotoobeopaidobyotheoconvictotootheoprosecutrix,oaso compensation.o o Ino addition,o tillo heo attainedo theo ageo ofo 21o years,o heo waso orderedotoobeosentotootheoplaceoofosafeocustody.o

8.o o ItowasofurtheroorderedobyotheolearnedotrialoCourtoconcerned,othato sinceotheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,owhooturnedointooanoadult,ohadobecomeo heldo guilty,o and,o theo prosecutrixo waso belowo 18o yeaso oldo ato theo timeo ofo occurrence,othusothroughoinvokingotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono33osub-Sectiono 8oofotheoPOCSOoAct,o2012oreadowithoRuleo9oofotheoProtectionoofoChildreno fromo Sexualo Offenceso Rules,o 2012,o ano amountoofo Rs.o4,00,000/-o becameo awarded,oasocompensation,otoobeopaidotootheovictimoforoherorehabilitationothuso forotheomentalotraumaocausedotooher,oand,otheomatterowasoorderedotoobeosentotoo theoDistrictoLegaloSercicesoAuthority,oMogaoforotheopaymentoofotheoaboveo compensationo fromo NALSA'so "Compensationo Schemeo foro Womeno vVictims/survivorsoofosexualoassault/otherocrimes,o2018".o

9.o o Sinceoasoonodate,otheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,ohasoattainedo theoageoofo21oyears,otherefore,oheois,ostatedobyotheolearnedoStateocounsel,otoobeo sufferingotheoaboveoimposedosubstantiveosentence(s)oofoimprisonment,othuso inotheoadultoprisonoconcerned.o Analysisoofotheostatementoofotheovictim,owhoosteppedointootheowitnessoo boxoasoPW-1.o

10.o o TheovictimoprosecutrixosteppedointootheowitnessoboxoasoPW-1.o Theovictim,oasorevealedobyoherobirthocertificate,otoowhichoEx.oP2oisoassigned,o wasoaominor,obothoatotheostageoofotheooffenceso(supra)obecomingoperpetrated,o authenticity of this order/juudgpmeontno her,o besideso ato theo stageo wheno sheo steppedo intoo theo witnesso box.o CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -7-o Therefore,osheowasounderoaolegaloencumbrance,otoometeoanyovalidoconsentotoo theojuvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,otoosubjectoherotoosexualointercourse,oifoany.o Moreover,ooalsootheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,othroughoqueryingoher,o thuso foro ensuringo theo gaugingo ofo hero intelligibilityo buto fromo theo answerso madeobyoherotoosuchoqueries,oand,oafteroconsideringoherogivingointelligibleo answersotootheorelevantoqueries,othusodeclaredoheroasoaocompetentowitness,o and,othereafteropermittedoher,otootestifyoinorespectoofotheopenalooccurrence.oIno othero words,o ino theo aboveo endeavour,o ao readingo ofo theo openingo ofo theo statemento ofo theo prosecutrix,o thuso reveals,o thato theo learnedo trialo Judgeo concerned,oforofathomingotheointelligibilityoasowelloasotheolegalocompetenceo ofotheochildowitness,otoodeposeoasosuch,obeforeohim,ohadoproceededotoomakeo queriesotooher.oHowever,osinceosheomadeointelligibleoanswersotoosuchomadeo queriesotooher,othus,otheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,omadeoanoopinion,othato sheohasotheocapacity,oand,ocompetenceotoodepose,oasoaowitness.ooInosequel,osheo wasopermittedotootestifyoinorespectoofotheopenalooccurrence.o

11.o o Inoheroexamination-in-chief,osheohasosupportedotheogenesisoofo theoprosecutionocase,oasobecomesoembodiedoinotheoFIRo(supra).ooAoreadingoofo hero examination-in-chief,o though,ounfoldso thato sheohaso madeo articulationso thereinsobutoinosupportoofotheopenalooccurrence,oasocarriedoinoEx.oP6,oyetopero se,oonoaoreadingoofoheroexamination-in-chief,onoofirmoconclusionocanobecomeo formed,othatosheohasorenderedoaotruthful,ountutored,oand,oconfidenceoinspiringo narrative,oinorespectoofotheopenalooccurrence.ooTherefore,oitoisobutoimperativeo tooalsooreadoherodeposition,oasocomprisedoinoherocross-examination.o

12.o o Aoreadingoofotheocross-examinationoofotheoprosecutrixoreveals,o thatothereinsotheodefenceomakingoaosuggestionotootheoprosecutrix,othatosheohado beenotakingotuitionofromoMuskanoKauroforotheolastotwooyears,obesidesotheo 2023.05.04 09:42 defenceomakingoaosuggestionotooher,othatoatotheorelevantotime,otheojuvenileoino CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -8-o conflictowitholaw,owasoavailableoatotheohouseoofoherotutorooneoMuskanoKaur,o buto emphasizinglyo therto(s)o theo prosecutrixo madeo affirmativeo answers.o Ino addition,o ao suggestiono waso alsoo madeo byo theo defenceo too PW-1,o thato theo washroomowhereinsotheopenalooccurrenceotookoplace,oisoatosomeodistanceo fromotheoplaceowhereosheowasotakingotuitionofromooneoMuskanoKaur,obuto theretoo alsoo ano affirmativeo answer,o thuso emanatedo fromo theo prosecutrix.o Moreover,osheohas,oinoherocross-examination,oalsoodeniedotheosuggestionothato sheohasofalselyoimplicatedotheoaccused,oatotheoinstanceoofoheroparents.o

13.o o Aowholesome,oand,oconjointoreadingoofotheotestificationo(supra)o ofotheoprosecutrix,oasocarriedorespectivelyoinoheroexamination-in-chief,oand,o inoherocross-examinationo(supra),oespeciallyowhenosheoinoheroexamination-in-chief,ohasoattributedoanounrebuttedoincriminatoryoroleotootheoaccused,othuso leadsotooanoinference,othatotheoaboveoaffirmativeoanswers,oasomadeobyotheo prosecutrix,o too theo aboveo suggestions,o aso metedo too hero byo theo defence.o Therefore,onecessarilyoaoconclusionobecomesofostered,othatotheoprosecutrixo hasorenderedoaotruthfuloconfidenceoinspiringoversion,oinorespectoofotheopenalo occurrence.o StatementoofoPW-2,omotheroofotheoprosecutrixo

14.o o Theomotheroofotheoprosecutrixosteppedointootheowitnessoboxoaso PW-2,oand,osheohasothereinsoprovenoheropreviouslyomadeostatement,otoowhicho Ex.oP1,oisoassigned,oand,owhichoresultedoinoFIRo(supra),obecomingoregisteredo atotheopoliceostationoconcerned.o

15.o o Beothatoasoitomay,othoughoinoheroexamination-in-chief,osheohaso deposed,othatoherominorodaughterohadorevealedotheopenalooccurrenceotooher,o ono2.11.2021,oatoabouto5.00oP.M,oinosequelotoohersonoticing,othatosheowaso weeping,obesidesohersoshowingoherounwillingnessotootakeotuitionofromooneo 2023.05.04 09:42 Muskano Kaur.o Theo incident,o aso disclosedo too hero byo theo prosecutrix,o iso CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -9-o testifiedobyoherotoobeotheoone,oasorevealedoinoherostatementoEx.oP1.o

16.o o Though,obothotheoprosecutrix,oand,oheromotheromakeovoicingsoino unison,o abouto theo incriminatoryo participationo ofo theo accusedo ino theo penalo occurrence.o Thus,o necessarilyo immenseo evidentiaryo credence,o iso too beo assignedo too theiro intero seo corroborativeo depositions,o aso madeo ino respecto thereof.o DelayoinotheolodgingoofotheoFIRoisoinsignificanto

17.o o Nonetheless,o theo penalo occurrence,o whicho occurredo ono

2.11.2021,oatotheohouseoofooneoMuskanoKaur,otheotutoroofotheoprosecutrix,o becameoreportedotootheopoliceoono10.11.2021.oTherefore,otheolearnedocounselo foro theo appellanto haso argued,o thato wheno theo saido delayo haso remaino unexplicated,o thuso eveno theo testificationso thougho renderedo witho intero seo corroboration,o byo PWso (supra),o rathero areo stainedo witho theo viceso ofo premeditation,oand,oconcoction,oand,othusobecomesoincredible.oTheolearnedo counseloforotheoappellantoinomakingotheoaboveosubmission,oplanksotheosameo uponotheofactum,othatothoughotheoprosecutrixorevealedotooher,otheooccurrenceo onotheoveryosameoday,owhenotheosaidooccurrenceotookoplaceoatotheocrimeosite,o buto sinceo theo explanationo foro theo occurrenceo ofo theo relevanto delay,o iso embeddedoinotheofactum,othatooneoPinky,oauntoofojuvenileoinoconflictowitho law,oand,otheomotheroofotheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,oarrivingoinofrontoofo theohouseoofoMuskanoKaur,oand,obothostartedoquarrelingowithoher.oTheoaboveo quarrelsothoughoresultedoinotheoPW-2otakingoherodaughterotooherohouse,oand,o thoughosheostatesothatoshe,oinotheonightotime,orevealedotheooccurrenceotoohero husbandoGurtejoSingh.ooInoaddition,othoughosheostates,othatoonotheosubsequento date,oherohusbandohadogoneotootheohouseoofotheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,o foromakingoaocomplaintowithohisoparents,obutoyetotheoparentsoofotheojuvenileoino 2023.05.04 09:42 conflictowitholaw,ostartedoquarrelingowithoherohusband,othusoresultingoinotheo CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -10-o PW-2oandoherohusbandoGurtejoSinghoreportingotheomatterotootheopanchayat,o and,o theo panchayato statingo too them,o thato theo accused,o and,o hiso familyo membersowouldoadmitotheiroguilt.ooMoreover,othoughosheoalsoostates,othatoforo abouto4-5odays,otheofamilyomembersoofotheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,o foughtowithothemowithosticks.ooThoughothusosheopurportedlyobecameodeterredo toomakeoaopromptoreportingoofotheoincidentotootheopolice.ooHowever,otheo learnedocounseloforotheoappellantoarguesothat,otheoaboveoexplanationsorelatingo tootheooccurrenceoofodelayoinoreportingoofotheoincident,otootheopolice,oareobuto pretextualoexplanations.oHeorestsotheoaboveoargumentoonotheoground,othato whenoduringotheocourseoofoherocross-examination,oPW-2owasoconfrontedowitho hero previouso statemento Ex.o P1,o foro ensuringo thato thereinso alsoo ao recitalo occurs,othusoinotandemowithoherospeakingsoinotheoexamination-in-chief,othato ono theorelevantoday,o theo familyo ofo theo juvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,o hado abusedo PW-2o ato nighto time,o yeto theo saido echoingso rathero noto occurringo thereins,o buto onlyo ao speakingo occurringo thereins,o thato theo familyo ofo theo accusedohadofoughtowithotheofamilyoofotheoprosecutrix.oMoreover,otheofurthero fact,oasodeposedobyoheroinoheroexamination-in-chief,obutoinoexplanationoofotheo relevantodelay,oinasmuchoas,ohersospeakingothereins,othatoonotheonextoday,ohero husbandohadovisitedotheohouseoofotheoaccusedoforomakingoaocomplaintowitho hisoparents,oinorespectoofotheopenalooccurrence,oand,othatothenotheofamilyo membersoofotheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,ostartedoquarrelingowithohero husband,owhenodidonot,oonoPW-2obecomingoconfrontedowithoExoP-1,orathero occuro thereins.o Moreover,o alsoo wheno duringo theo courseo ofo hero cross-examination,otheoechoingomadeobyoPW-2oinoheroexamination-in-chief,othato theodeterrenceoinomakingotheopromptoreportingoofotheoincidentotootheopolice,o ensuedo fromo PW-2,o and,o hero husbando visitingo theo panchayat,o and,o theo 2023.05.04 09:42 panchayato intimatingo them,o thato theo familyo memberso ofo theo juvenileo ino CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -11-o conflictowitholaw,owouldoadmitotheiroguilt,oyetoonoPW-2obecomingoconfrontedo withoPW-1,otheosaidoechoingsonotooccurringothereins.oTherefore,oheoargueso thatosinceotheoaboveodelayoisounexplained,oand/or,oisounexplicated,othereforeo theo delayedo reportingo ofo theo penalo incidento too theo police,o resultso ino theo prosecutiono versiono beingo tainedo witho ao viceo ofo premeditation,o and,o concoction.oo Reasonofororejectingotheoaboveosubmissionso

18.o o Theo reasono foro rejectingo theo aboveo submissions,o iso firmlyo groovedo ino theo factum,o thato thougho thereo mayo beo ao purportedo pretextualo explication,oemanatingofromoPW-2oinohersomakingoaopromptoreportingoofotheo incidentotootheopolice.ooNonetheless,otheoeffectsothereof,obecomeocompletelyo underwhelmedoorobecomeoeclipsed,oinotheolightoofotheoprosecutrixocompletelyo supportingo both,o ino hero examination-in-chief,o and,o hero cross-examination,o ratherotheogenesisoofotheoprosecutionocase,oasocarriedoinoEx.oP6.oMoreover,o alsoowhen,oasoaboveostated,odespiteotheoprosecutrix,oinoheroexamination-in-chiefo makingo candido speakings,o thuso underscoringo theo incriminatoryo participationoofotheoaccusedoinotheocrimeooccurrence,oyetotheosaidospeakingso remainingounshatteredoofotheiroefficacy,oevenoduringohersofacingotheoordealoofo ao grillingo cross-examination.o Contrarily,o theo defenceo ino hero cross-examination,omadeosuggestionsotooherowherebyoitonotoonlyoadmitted,orathero thusofororeasonso(supra),otheotriteofactumoofotheoprosecutrixotakingotuitionoono theorelevantoday,oatotheohouseoofooneoMuskanoKaur,obutoalsooadmittedotheo factumothatoatotheotime,otheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholaw,owasoalsoopresentoino theohouseoofotheosaidoMuskanoKaur.ooFurthermore,osinceotheocrimeositeoisotheo washroomoinotheohouseoofoMuskanoKaur,otherefore,owhenoduringoherocross-examination,o theo prosecutrixo waso metedo ao suggestion,o thato theo saido 2023.05.04 09:42 washroomoisolocatedoatoaodistanceofromotheoplaceowhereoMuskanoKaurowaso CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -12-o tutoringo her.o Therefore,o thuso obviouslyo theo defenceo admits,o too theo saido washroomobeingotheocrimeosite,oespeciallyowhenotheoaccusedohasonototakenotoo subsequentlyo efficaciouslyo denyo theo fact,o aso groovedo ino hero cross-examination,o thato ato theo relevanto time,o heo waso presento ino theo houseo ofo MuskanoKaur,othroughoitsoleadingotheosaidoMuskanoKaur,ointootheowitnesso box,o aso ao defenceo witness.o o Therefore,o foro lacko ofo anyo exculpatoryo explanationo becomingo purveyedo byo theo accused,o thuso aftero theo defenceo ensuringoduringoherocross-examination,oelicitationsofromotheoprosecutrix,othato theo juvenileo ino conflicto witho law,o waso alsoo availableo ato theo crimeo site.o Therefore,oleadsotooanoinference,o thatotheo defenceoconceding,o bothotootheo availabilityoofotheojuvenileoinoconflictowitholawoatotheocrimeosite,oand,oalsoohiso availabilityoalongowithotheoprosecutrix,oatotheohouseoofooneoMuskanoKaur,o besidesohisoacquiescingotoohisopresenceoinotheowashroomowhichoisotheocrimeo site.o

19.o o Resultantly,o ito cannoto beo said,o thato eveno ifo thereo waso someo unexplainedodelay,obutoforotheoreasonsoasoassignedobyotheolearnedodefenceo counsel,o ino theo prompto reportingo ofo theo penalo occurrence,o too theo policeo agency,oratherotheosaidodelayedoreporting,oyetodoesonotolead,otooaoconclusion,o thatotheocrimeostoryoisosufferingofromoanyotaintoofofalsehoodoorofromoanyotainto ofoanyoconcoctionooropremeditation.ooTheoreasonobeingothat,oonoaowholesomeo appraisaloofotheotestificationoofotheoprosecutrix,otheotriteounderlinings,othuso emergeo buto ino vivido displayo abouto theo incriminatoryo participationo ofo theo appellant,oinotheocrimeooccurrence.o

20.o o Theo argumento ofo theo learnedo defenceo counsel,o thato sinceo theo prosecutrix,o aso revealedo ono ao readingo ofo theo depositiono ofo PW-10,o hado refusedotooundergooaomedicaloexamination,obesidesorefusedotoosupplyotootheo 2023.05.04 09:42 investigatingoofficer,oherovaginaloswabooroDNAosamplesothusoforotheorelevanto CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -13-o matchingso thereofs,o beingo madeo byo theo experto concerned.o Therefore,o theo crimeo storyo iso prevaricated.o However,o foro theo reasonso too beo assignedo hereinafter,otheosaidoargumentoisorejected.o

21.o o Theoprimeoreasonofororejectingotheoaboveoargument,oisofounded,o upono theo premise,o thato sinceo thiso Courto haso assignedo graveo evidentiaryo solemnityo too theo confidenceo inspiringo testificationo ofo theo prosecutrix.o Therefore,o wheno theo medicalo evidenceo oro theo forensico evidence,o iso onlyo corroborativeotootheosaidoconfidenceoinspiringotestification,oas,orenderedoquao theocrimeostory,othusobyotheoprosecutrix.ooThus,oobviouslyotheocorroborativeo medicaloevidenceooroforensicoevidence,oevenoifoforotheoaboveoreasons,odoeso noto existo ono record,o rathero cannoto denudeo theo vigouro ofo theo confidenceo inspiringotestification,oas,orenderedobyotheoprosecutrix,oinorespectoofotheocrimeo event.oTherefore,otheounwillingnessoofotheoprosecutrixotooundergoomedicalo examination,oand/orotoosupplyoherovaginaloswabsooroDNAosample,othusoforoo examination(s)othereof,obeingomade,oalongowithotheoDNAosamplesoofotheo accused,oratherobecomesocompletelyoinconsequential.o

22.o o Theofurtheroreasonoforomakingotheoaboveoinferenceostems,ofromo theofactum,othatoPW-7,owhoorecordedotheostatementoofotheoprosecutrix,oino termsoofoSectiono164oofotheoCr.P.C.,ohasouponohisosteppingointootheowitnesso box,oratheroinohisoexamination-in-chief,oprovenotheosaidostatement,oand,otoo whicho Ex.o P4o iso assigned.o Sinceo heo has,o ino hiso examination-in-chief,o unequivocallyotestified,othatoonlyoafterohisoreadingooverotheosaidostatementotoo theovictim,oand,owhereafterosheoadmittedotheocontentsothereof,otoobeocorrect,o thusoappendedoherosignaturesoatopointo'A'otoopointo'E'othereof,oand,owhicho resultedoinotheoissuanceoofoaocertificateoorderoEx.oP7,obutoalsoowithoechoing(s)o thereins,othatotheosaidostatementowasovoluntarilyomade.oHowever,owhenotheo 2023.05.04 09:42 saidoechoingsoexistingoinohisoexamination-in-chief,oratheroremainedouncross-CRA-D-871-2022o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -14-o examined.ooTherefore,oalsooaoconclusionoisotoobeoformed,othatotheotestificationo madeoinotheoCourt,obyotheoprosecutrix,owhenoisoinocompleteocorroborationotoo Ex.oP4,othusocreditworthinessoisotoobeoassignedothereto.ooTherefore,othereowaso nooneedoatoalloforocorroborativeotheretoomedicalooroforensicoevidence,obeingo collectedobyotheoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned,onoroforootheosameobecomingo adduced.o Finaloordero

23.o o Theoresultoofotheoaboveodiscussion,oisothat,othisoCourtodoesonoto findoanyomeritoinotheoappeal,oand,oisoconstrainedotoodismissoit.ooConsequently,o theo appealo iso dismissed.o Theo impugnedo verdicto ofo conviction,o aso alsoo consequento therewitho sentence,o aso becameo imposedo upono theo convict-appellant,obyotheolearnedoconvictingoCourt,oareomaintained,oand,oaffirmed.oIfo theo convicto iso ono bail,o thereupon,o theo sentence(s)o aso imposedo upono theo convict-appellant,obeoensuredotoobeoforthwithoexecutedobyotheolearnedotrialo Judgeoconcerned,othroughohisoforthwithodrawingocommittalowarrants.oTheo caseopropertyobeodealtowith,oinoaccordanceowitholaw,obutoafterotheoexpiryoofo theoperiodoofolimitationoforotheofilingoofoanoappeal.oo

24.o o Recordsobeosentodownoforthwith.o

25.o o Theomiscellaneousoapplication(s),oifoany,ois/areoalsoodisposedoof.o oo o o o o o o o(SURESHWARoTHAKUR)o o o o oooooo o o o oooooJUDGEo o o o o o o o o o oooo(KULDEEPoTIWARI)o o o o o o o oooooJUDGEo ndMayo2 ,o2023o o o o o o ooooo o Gurpreet/Ithlesho o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo 2023.05.04 09:42 Whetheroreportableo o :o Yes/Noo