The Delhi High Court has recently upheld the life imprisonment of a man who was convicted of sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl. The victim used to live in the same neighbourhood as the perpetrator. The court ruled that the man took advantage of the situation and breached the trust of an “innocent, tender-age victim.”
The man had appealed against his conviction and sentence, which had been awarded by a trial court. However, the high court dismissed his appeal, stating that the punishment did not warrant any interference.
The court noted that the prosecution had successfully established that the man had committed penetrative sexual assault on the victim beyond reasonable doubt. The conviction was based on evidence provided by the victim’s mother, who had witnessed the assault and immediately reported it to the police.
The high court further stated that the man’s actions were reprehensible, and the victim’s young age made the crime even more heinous. The court emphasized that the crime had caused severe trauma to the victim and her family and that such acts of violence against children cannot be tolerated.
The court also highlighted the need for strict punishment in cases of sexual assault against children. It noted that such crimes are on the rise in India and called for society to work together to prevent and punish such acts.
In recent years, India has seen a growing awareness of child sexual abuse, thanks to campaigns by activists and media organizations. However, there is still a long way to go in terms of prevention, reporting, and conviction of perpetrators.
According to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau, the number of reported cases of child sexual abuse in India increased by over 500% between 2013 and 2019. The report also highlighted that a majority of these cases involve children under the age of 14.
The report further revealed that a large number of perpetrators of child sexual abuse are known to the victim or are family members. This makes it even more challenging to prevent such crimes and ensure justice for victims.
The Indian government has taken steps to address the issue, such as amending laws to make them more stringent and introducing special courts to fast-track cases of child sexual abuse. However, more needs to be done to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, and victims receive the necessary support and protection.
