Rape Victim’s Statement Cannot Be Treated as Gospel Truth: Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court recently emphasized that while the statement of a rape survivor deserves significant consideration, it cannot be blindly accepted as absolute truth. The court highlighted the importance of evaluating the credibility of the victim’s testimony to ensure justice.
Court’s Observations on Rape Cases
In its judgment, the court stated, “The statement of the prosecutrix cannot be treated as gospel truth. The court must assess whether the complainant is a witness of sterling quality. Blindly treating the allegations as absolute truth would undermine the principles of justice.” The court added that such an approach would eliminate the need for a trial and could result in wrongful convictions.
This ruling came from a division bench comprising Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Jagmohan Bansal, which dismissed a plea filed by a woman from Rewari, Haryana.
Background of the Case
The complainant filed an FIR on September 19, 2017, accusing her fiancé, an Army employee, of rape, molestation, and related charges. According to her, the accused took her to Kosli, Dauroli Road near BKD School and raped her on August 9, 2017, after their engagement had been fixed with her family’s consent. She claimed the accused threatened to kill her when she resisted physical relations before marriage.
However, during the trial, the additional sessions judge acquitted the accused, citing lack of evidence and the prosecution’s failure to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Dissatisfied with the verdict, the complainant appealed to the High Court.
High Court’s Verdict
The High Court upheld the trial court’s findings, noting several inconsistencies in the complainant’s account. It observed that the alleged incident occurred in a public place near a hospital, police station, and a busy road, making the allegations highly questionable. The bench remarked that it was improbable for someone working in the Army to commit such an act under such circumstances.
The court concluded that the trial court’s judgment was well-reasoned and dismissed the woman’s appeal, stating that there was no merit in her allegations.
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