Bahoriya vs State of Madhya Pradesh

N.K. Gupta, J—The appellant has preferred the present jail appeal against the judgment dated 10.6.1997 passed by the Special Judge under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Satna in special case No. 20/1996, whereby the appellant has been convicted of offence under Section 376 of IPC and sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs. 10/-, in default of payment of fine, one day''s rigorous imprisonment.

The prosecution''s case, in short, is that, on 22.4.1996, the prosecutrix (P.W.2) went to take some wheat from the house of one Ramkhilawan at village Bardha, Police Station Ramnagar, District Satna, when she was coming back from the house of Ramkhilawan, the appellant Bahorilal met her in the way and gave a proposal to catch a parrot. Though the prosecutrix refused to go with him, he took the prosecutrix forcefully near the dam. Near the dam, the appellant threw the prosecutrix on Earth and removed her underwear and thereafter, inserted his penis in her vagina and committed rape upon her. Nobody came to the spot. The prosecutrix went back to her house and intimated her mother Somwati (P.W.6) about the incident. Thereafter, when her father Mahadev (P.W.7) came to the house, he was also intimated about the incident and thereafter, Sarpanch of that village and Chowkidar Akhilesh (P.W.8) were also informed. With help of Chowkidar, the prosecutrix was taken to Police Station Ramnagar, where she lodged the FIR, Ex.P/3. She was sent for her medico legal examination. Dr. K. Singh (P.W.3), a Lady Assistant Surgeon posted at Civil Hospital, Ramnagar had examined the prosecutrix and gave a report, Ex.P/4. She found some abrasions to the prosecutrix on her back at the height of T-11 and T-12. The private part of the prosecutrix was swollen. Blood was oozing from her vagina and entrance of vagina was lacerated. Hymen was also found recently torn. Doctor has given position of cracks in hymen. There was a laceration in mucous membrane and blood was oozing. According to Dr. Singh, a forceful intercourse was done by someone upon the prosecutrix. Thereafter, the appellant was arrested and sent for medico legal examination. After due investigation, a charge-sheet was filed before the Special Court.

The appellant abjured his guilt. He took a plea that he was falsely implicated in the matter due to a dispute of land between him and Mahadev, father of the prosecutrix. In defence, Devideen (D.W.1) and Awadhesh Singh (D.W.2) were examined.

Special Judge, after considering the evidence adduced by the parties, acquitted the appellant from the charge of offence under Section 3(2)(v) of the Special Act but, convicted him of offence under Section 376 of IPC and sentenced as mentioned above.

I have heard the learned counsel for the parties at length.

In such cases, it is appropriate to assess the age of the prosecutrix before considering other evidence because consent of the prosecutrix would be material if medical report is not positive. In the present case, the prosecutrix was initially shown to be 12 years of age when she was sent for her medico legal examination. In FIR, Ex.P/3, the prosecutrix informed the concerned police officer that she was 10 years old. No certificate relating to her date of birth has been produced by the prosecution. No educational record of the prosecutrix has been produced to show her date of birth and the age of the prosecutrix as shown by her parents depends upon their memory. Somwati (P.W.6) and Mahadev (P.W.7) are illiterate persons and therefore, age told by them cannot be accepted as it is. Somwati has stated that age of her daughter was 10 to 12 years and according to Mahadev (P.W.7), father of the prosecutrix, she was 8 to 9 years old.

Dr. V.G. Hinduja (P.W.1) performed the ossification test on the prosecutrix and gave his report, Ex.P/1. According to him, the prosecutrix was 9 to 14 years of age. However, she was below 14 years of age. Learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that in such assessment, two years may be added on both the sides and therefore, possibility cannot be ruled out that the prosecutrix was above 16 years of age at the time of incident. However, such contention cannot be accepted because 2 years may be added on both the sides and therefore, it is not necessary to add 2 years margin on positive direction. In this context, Dr. K. Singh (P.W.3) who examined the prosecutrix during her medico legal examination had given a report, Ex.P/4, in which she had mentioned that 28 teeth were found in mouth of the prosecutrix but, her pubic and axillary hair were not well developed. In this context, the judgment passed by the Apex Court in case of Bishnudayal Vs. State of Bihar, AIR 1981 SC 39 : (1980) CriLJ 1297 : (1981) SCC(Cri) 283 : (1980) 12 UJ 887 may be referred, in which it was observed by the Apex Court that when doctor found that there were 28 teeth in the mouth of the prosecutrix and axillary hair and pubic hair were smooth, which means hair according to doctor has just started appearing at the age of 14 and therefore, the Apex Court found the age of the prosecutrix to be 13 to 14 years. Under such circumstances, in the light of the aforesaid judgment passed by the Apex Court and looking to the symptoms of the prosecutrix as depicted by Dr. K. Singh (P.W.3), the prosecutrix was below 14 years of age and 2 years cannot be added in computation of her age by ossification test on upper side.

Since the prosecutrix was found below 16 years of age at the time of the incident then, her consent was immaterial. If testimony of the prosecutrix is considered then, the prosecutrix (P.W.2) has stated categorically about the incident that the appellant took her near the dam and committed forceful intercourse upon her. The prosecutrix immediately went to her house and intimated about the incident to her mother Somwati (P.W.6) and thereafter, father Mahadev (P.W.7). It is accepted by Somwati and Mahadev that they informed Sarpanch about the incident. However, the witness Devideen (D.W.1) has stated that Awadhesh Singh (D.W.2) was Sarpanch of the village at that time and Awadhesh Singh (D.W.2) has stated that he had no knowledge about the incident. Unfortunately, the defence witness Devideen did not say that Awadhesh Singh was Sarpanch at the time of the incident and Awadhesh Singh (D.W.2) himself did not claim that he was Sarpanch of the village at the time of incident. On the other hand, Chowkidar Akhilesh (P.W.8) has stated that after getting information from Somwati, he went to the house of Somwati and saw the prosecutrix. The lower part of the prosecutrix was painted with blood and blood was oozing from her private part. He has also given the evidence of extra judicial confession done by the appellant. No challenge was given in the cross-examination of this witness about the extra judicial confession.

The testimony of the prosecutrix was also confirmed by the FIR, Ex.P/3 duly lodged by the prosecutrix within a reasonable time. Dr. K. Singh (P.W.3) has also proved that the victim sustained so many internal injuries and injuries on her back. Looking to the medical report of the prosecutrix, her testimony is acceptable beyond doubt and if that evidence is considered with extra judicial confession done by the appellant before witness Akhilesh (P.W.8), it would be apparent that the appellant had committed intercourse upon the prosecutrix in a forceful manner and looking to the injuries of the prosecutrix, it would be apparent that she was never consented to such an act and therefore, it is proved beyond doubt that the appellant had committed rape upon the prosecutrix. The trial Court has rightly convicted the appellant of offence under Section 376 of IPC.

So far as the sentence is concerned, the learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that the appellant was the first offender, who was a youth of 25 years of age at the time of incident and he had committed the crime due to his lust. However, he repaints the same. He has faced the trial and appeal for last 19 years and he remained in the custody for more than 6 years during the trial and appeal. Age of the prosecutrix was above 10 years and therefore, the appellant may be imposed with the minimum sentence of offence under Section 376 of IPC i.e. 7 years. The submission made by the learned counsel for the appellant appears to be acceptable. Looking to the age of the appellant at the time of incident, the fact that he was the first offender and that the prosecutrix was above 10 years of age, it would be appropriate that jail sentence of the appellant may be reduced from a period of 10 years to the period of 7 years. However, some fine amount may be increased.

On the basis of the aforesaid discussion, the appeal filed by the appellant is hereby partly allowed. His conviction of offence under Section 376 of IPC is hereby maintained but, jail sentence is reduced from the period of 10 years to the period of 7 years rigorous imprisonment. However, fine is increased from a sum of Rs. 10/- to a sum of Rs. 5,000/-. In default of payment of fine, the appellant shall undergo for one year rigorous imprisonment in addition. If fine is deposited then, a sum of Rs. 5,000/- be provided to Mahadev S/o Ramjiyawan R/o Village Bardha, Police Station Ramnagar, District Satna (M.P.), father of the prosecutrix by way of compensation, so that it may be given to the prosecutrix.

The appellant is in jail. He may be released after completion of sentence, if he deposits the fine amount. Office is directed to arrange for issuance of a supersession warrant, so that the appellant may be released, after depositing the fine amount, when his main jail sentence is completed.

Copy of the judgment be sent to the trial Court alongwith its record for information and compliance.