BHOLARAM vs STATE OF CG

Since the counsel engaged by the Legal Aid Department is not present in spite of the matter being called on two occasions, this Court took the

assistance of Ms. Sunita Jain, advocate present in the court for final disposal of the appeal. The High Court Legal Aid department should ensure

providing necessary authority to Ms. Sunita Jain, advocate for representing the appellant in this appeal.

Present is a jail appeal. The appellant stands convicted for the offence punishable under Sections 376 & 323 of IPC and sentenced to undergo RI

for ten years with fine of Rs.1,000/-, in default of payment of fine to further undergo RI for four months u/s 376 IPC and RI for one year u/s 323 of

IPC vide order dated 15.11.2007 passed by the Sessions Judge, Kanker, District North Bastar, Kanker (CG) in Session Trial No. 16/2007.

Counsel for the appellant submits that the entire case of the prosecution is a false case. The appellant being father of the prosecutrix could not have

been committed the said offence. He has been falsely implicated on account of some family dispute. She submits that there is no substantial evidence

brought on record to establish the case of the prosecution as no independent witness could be brought to adduce evidence to prove the case of the

prosecution.

Per contra, state counsel referring to the documents along with the appeal submits that the prosecution in fact has led sufficient evidence to prove

its case beyond all reasonable doubts. He submits that the prosecutrix was a minor girl aged around 13 years and her statement itself is sufficient to

implicate the appellant. He submits that the statement of the prosecutrix stands corroborated from the statement of PW-6 Parvati, mother of the

prosecutrix and there is no reason to disbelieve the prosecutrix and her mother. Thus, the case of the prosecution so far as the incident is concerned,

stands established from the statement of these two witnesses. As regards the age of the prosecutrix, State counsel refers to the statement of PW-10

Dr. R.C. Thakur who had conducted ossification test and PW-11, S. U. Ali, the headmaster of the Girls Primary School where the prosecutrix had

initially undertaken education. PW-11 had produced school admission register Ex. P-20 wherein the date of birth of the prosecutrix has been

mentioned as 23.04.1993 i.e. at the time of incident, the prosecutrix was a minor. Thus, prayed for the rejection of the appeal.

Having heard the contentions put forth on either side and on perusal of the record and also considering the statement of the prosecutrix, a minor girl

aged about 13-14 years and statement of her mother, there is no reason to disbelieve the statement of both these witnesses. Moreover, what also hard

to believe is that both PW-5 & PW-6, the prosecutrix and her mother have levelled allegation against the appellant who is the father of the prosecutrix

and husband of the PW-6. Further what cannot be lost sight is the evidence of PW-8 Dr. K. L. Thakur who had medically examined the prosecutrix

and in her deposition has categorically stated that there were injuries on the private part of the prosecutrix so also on the other parts of her body found

which shows the prosecutrix being subjected to sexual intercourse and sustaining injuries in the course.

So far as the age of the prosecutrix is concerned, the evidence of PW- 10 & PW-11, both being consistent to each other, it has been sufficiently

proved by the prosecution by way of ossification test as also by producing evidence from the school register. Thus, it stands established that the

prosecutrix on the date of incident was a minor.

Given the aforesaid evidence which has come before the trial Court, the finding of guilt against the appellant cannot be said to be in any manner

erroneous or perverse nor can it be said to be contrary to the evidence. Under the circumstance, the present appeal being devoid of merit, deserves to

be and is accordingly dismissed.

State counsel, on perusal of record, submits that the appellant in the instant case has completed the entire jail sentence and has been released from

jail on 18.09.2014. Hence, no further step is required to be taken on the appeal being dismissed. This Court renders a word of appreciation to Ms.

Sunita Jain for rendering valuable assistance for disposal of this appeal.