Professional Documents
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yamini baghel
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gi7037
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2|Page MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
PRAKASH JAVEDKAR
(APPELLANT)
Versus
GANESH GAITONDE
(RESPONDENT)
1. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS…………………………………………………3-4
2. INDEX OF AUTHORITIES………………………………………………….5-7
3. STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION…………………………………………8
4. STATEMENTS OF FACTS………………………………………………….9-10
5. ISSUES RAISED……………………………………………………………...11-12
6. SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS……………………………………………..13-14
7. ADVANCED ARGUMENTS.………………………………………………..15-34
8. PRAYER……………………………………………………………………….35
[LIST OF ABBREVIATION ]
4|Page MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
➢ Del. Delhi
➢ Edn. Edition
➢ Guj. Gujarat
➢ IC Indian Cases
➢ Mad Madras
➢ Ori Orissa
➢ Pat Patna
➢ Hon’ble Honourable
➢ SC Supreme Court
➢ Sec. Section
➢ Art. Article
➢ Raj. Rajasthan
➢ Mah. Maharashtra
➢ Pun. Punjab
➢ KB Kings Bench
➢ Lah. Lahore
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
BOOKS
❖ Justice V. V. Raghavan, Law of Crimes, India Law House, New Delhi, 5th Edn.
2001.
❖ K I Vibhute, P.S.A Pillai’s Criminal law, Lexis Nexis, 12th Edn. 2014.
❖ Dr. (Sir) Hari Singh Gour, Penal Law of India, Law Publishers (India) Pvt.
Ltd., 11th Edition, 2011
J C Smith, Smith and Hogan Criminal Law – Cases and Materials,
LexisNexis Butterworths, 8TH Edn, 2007
❖ C K Thakker ‘Takwani’, Criminal Procedure, Lexis Nexis, 3 rd Edition, 2013
❖ R.V. Kelkar, Criminal Procedure, Eastern Book Company, 5th Edn., 2008
Nagpur., 2011
❖ M. Monir, The Law Of Evidence, 14th Edition, Universal Law Publishing Co.
Ltd, 2011
STATUTES :
❖ SCC Online
10 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, the Supreme Court may, in its discretion, grant
special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any
cause or matter passed or made by any court or tribunal in the territory of India
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall apply to any judgment, determination, sentence or order passed
or made by any court or tribunal constituted by or under any law relating to the Armed Forces
11 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
STATEMENT OF FACTS
BACKGROUND
Isha Javedkar, the victim, a girl aged 11 years lived with her family in Borrevali, Mumbai. Within
the same locality lived the family of Respondent, Ganesh Gaitonde, a medical college graduate.
Both the families shared a cordial relationship with each other.
INCIDENT
On 31/5/2012 Isha received a call from Richa, niece of the respondent around 4 or
5pm stating that her mother wanted her to come to her house. On reaching there with her younger
brother, Isha found no one except the respondent and his niece. On his direction Richa left out the
room with Isha's younger brother. Then Respondent fastened the door and stripped off himself
and took off the victim's clothes. Respondent asked her to do fellatio after which he cuddled the
victim and slightly inserted his penis into her vulva, then started sucking her lips. After a moment
the respondent turned loose the victim but again for fulfilling his thrust, he laid down the girl on
sofa and closed her mouth to mute her. When the victim was leaving the room, the Respondent
threatened her to not to disclose anything about the incident, otherwise the elder brother of the
Respondent who is Superintendent of Police would brutally beat her parents. Isha narrated the
whole incident to Richa. In the evening she told her mother that the respondent asked her to suck
his private part, not disclosing the whole incident. Richa told Isha that the Respondent used to do
the same thing with her. Lata Joshi, tenant in Javedkar’s house, found the girls whispering and
asked the matter to which Isha narrated the incident to her and other girls. On the third day Isha
told the entire Incident to her mother.
At night when the Appellant, Prakash Javedkar, father of the victim learned about the
occurrence, rushed to the Respondent’s house with Mrs. Javedkar, Tulsi (sister of Appellant),
Shalesh Singh and Shalendra Kaur (neighbors). After mid-night, the Respondent returned home
and realizing the heat of the moment, he voluntarily confessed his crime admitting that he
committed similar offence with Richa, Kukko and other girls in the locality but being a doctor, he
12 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
Next morning, Prakash Javedkar informed Sooryavansham about the incident to which
the Respondent again confessed his act stating that, “I have raped the girl, but I have not ruptured
her hymn. You should not be perplexed, I know what are my limits, I am a doctor. You need not
to go to any doctor”.
MEDICAL REPORT
The medical report said that there was an abrasion on the medial side of labia majora
and redness around the Labia minora with a white discharge. Dr. prepared a slide of white
discharge which did not reveal any seminal stains in the virginal smear. Hymen was intact and
admitted tip of little finger. Labia majora was about 1-1/2" in length and did not have any crest.
According to the medical report of the respondent, he was a virile person and capable
of performing sexual inter-course without any injury.
The L.D. Trial Court acquitted the accused on lack of evidences in support of allegations labelled by
the prosecution for offence under Section 376 of IPC and arrived at a conclusion that the prosecution
launched against the Respondent on account of some enmity between the two families.
The Hon’ble High Court while relying upon the statements and evidences found the accused
guilty under Section 354 of Indian Penal Code and pronounced Simple Imprisonment for 6
months with a fine of Rs. 3000. Out of which Rs. 2000 is paid over as compensation to Prakash
Javedkar, if collected.
CRIMINAL APPEAL
Aggrieved by the judgment of Hon’ble High Court, Appellant (father of the victim) filed an appeal
before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
13 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
ISSUE RAISED
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS
It is humbly submitted before the Hon'ble Court that the accused stripped off the
victim's clothes, asked her to do fellatio, pinned her close, slightly inserted his penis into her
vulva and threatened her not to disclose this incident. The Hon'ble High Court convicted the
accused for a minor offence under Sec. 354, although all the ingredients fulfilling the nature of
Sec. 376 of IPC are present. Furthermore, the accused also made an extra judicial confession
admitting the act, stating that he also committed the similar act with other girls from the same
locality.
It is humbly submitted before Hon’ble court that the extra judicial confession made by the
accused is admissible and does not need corroboration. The testimony of witnesses is reliable as
the witnesses did not have any interest in the trial. An extra- Judicial confession, if voluntary
can be relied upon by the court along with other evidence in convicting the accused
16 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
It is humbly submitted before the Hon'ble Court that traumatic event left both short
term and long-term agony over the victim and her family. The sexual abuse can impact the
adjustment of the child victim throughout the development. Therefore, considering the gravity
of the offence, the fine imposed by the Hon'ble High Court is grossly inadequate.
It is humbly submitted before the Hon'ble High Court that increase in number of
offences against children below 12 years of age, shows the urgent need to bring reform in rape
laws. It is not only an injury to the victim’s body but also exploits her mind and soul. Hence, to
restore the faith of people on the judicial system and to bring fear in mind of the offenders strict
laew is needed.
17 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
ARGUMENTS ADVANCED
¶-It is humbly submitted that the Special Leave Petition against the judgment of
Hon’ble High Court is maintainable under Article 136 of the Constitution of India. It is
contended that the jurisdiction of Supreme Court under Article 136 can always be invoked
when a question of law of general public importance arises and even question of fact can also
be a subject matter of judicial review under Art.136.
¶-The jurisdiction conferred under Art. 136 on the SC is a corrective one and not
a restrictive one. A duty is enjoined upon the SC to exercise its power by setting right the
illegality in the judgments is well-settled that illegality must not be allowed to be perpetrated
and failure by the SC to interfere with the same would amount to allowing the illegality. It
has been held by this Hon’ble Court that when a question of law of general public
importance arises, or a decision shocks the conscience of the court, its jurisdiction can
always be invoked. Article 136 is the residuary power of SC to do justice where the court is
satisfied that there is injustice to be perpetuated. In the present case, the question of law
involved in appeal is of recurring nature which has been raised in plethora of cases. Hence, it
is humbly submitted before this Hon’ble Supreme Court of India that the matter involves
substantial question of law and hence entitled to be maintainable.
1
1991 AIR 2176, 1991 SCR (3) 936
18 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
“Under Article 136 there is no room for any doubt that this Court has wide power
to interfere and correct the Judgment and orders passed by any court or Tribunal in the
country. In addition to the appellate power, the Court has special residuary power to
entertain appeal against any order of any court in the country. The plenary jurisdiction of
this Court to grant leave and hear appeals against any order of a court or Tribunal, confers
power of judicial superintendence overall the courts and Tribunals in the territory of India
including subordinate courts of Magistrate and District Judge. This Court has, therefore,
supervisory jurisdiction over all courts in India.”
The principle is that this court would never do injustice nor allow injustice being
perpetrated for the sake of upholding technicalities.3
¶- In the case of Chandra Bansi Singh v. State of Bihar4 it has been adjudged
by this
Hon’ble Court that the Supreme Court is not only a court of law but also a
court of equity. It has been well settled by various other case laws that, if approached, the
Supreme Court can interfere in order to prevent injustice5 and errors of law.6 ¶- In the
case in hand, the victim who was minor was raped (which has been proved in subsequent
issues) by the accused. But the Hon’ble High Court without taking recourse to the
2
C.C.E v Standard Motor Products, (1989) AIR 1298.
3
Janshed Hormusji Wadia v Board of Trustees, Port of Mumbai (2004)3 SCC 214.
4
Chandra Bansi Singh v. State of Bihar, (1984) 4 SCC 316
5
Mahendra Saree Emporium (II) v. G.V. Srinivasa Murthy, (2005) 1 SCC 481; See also Durga Shankar Mehta v.
Thakur Raghuraj Singh, AIR 1954 SC 520; Union Carbide Corporation v. Union of India, (1991) 4 SCC 584.
6
Rafiq v. State of U.P., (1980) 4 SCC 262
19 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
material brought before it acquitted the accused which led to the injustice done to the
complainant. This has disturbed the public. Hence, the matter concerned is of great public
importance and the same was reiterated by the High court.
¶- It is submitted that in the present case the High Court has acted perversely
while appreciating the evidence. The conclusions of the High Court are manifestly
perverse and unsupportable from the evidence on record. Hence, where the consideration
of evidence by High Court is not proper the Hon’ble Supreme court can interfere in fact
finding in a criminal case.8 In the present matter, the High Court has acted arbitrarily in
the exercise of its discretionary power which led to the injustice done to the complainant.
¶- When the High Court departed from the rule of prudence while
appreciating the evidence, interference by the Supreme Court is justified.9 Hence, the
Hon’ble Supreme Court can interfere in the fact finding.
7
Govt. of NCT of Delhi v. Jaspal Singh, (2003) 10 SCC 586.
8
Lal Mandi v. State of W.B., (1995) 3 SCC 603
9
Mousam Singha Roy v. State of W. B., (2003) 12 SCC 377
AIR 1983 SC 187
20 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
¶- In State of U.P. v. Rajanath10, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that the
order of acquittal had resulted in the manifest miscarriage of justice because the High
Court did not make any attempt to evaluate the extra judicial confession made by the
accused and the corroborative evidence of witness properly. Accordingly, the order of the
High Court was set aside, and it was directed to dispose of appeal afresh after evaluating
the evidence.
“The proper test for determining whether a question of law raised in the case
is substantial would, in our opinion, be whether it is of general public importance or
whether it directly and substantially affects the rights of the parties and if so whether it is
either an open question in the sense that it is not finally settled by this Court or by the
Privy Council or by the Federal Court or is not free from difficulty or calls for discussion
of alternative views12.”
10
AIR 1983 SC 187
11
Dale & Carrington Investment Ltd. v. P.K. Prathapan (2005) 1 SCC 212.
12
Sir Chunilal Mehta and Sons. Ltd. v. Century Spinning and Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (1962) AIR 1314.
13
Anita Kushwaha v. Pushap Sudan, (2016) 8 SCC 509
21 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
India is effected by the arbitrary decision of the Hon’ble High Court. Hence, it is humbly
submitted before this Hon’ble Supreme Court of India that the matter involves substantial
question of law and hence entitled to be maintainable.
(1) An appellate Court has full power to review, reappreciate and reconsider the evidence
upon which the order of acquittal is founded,
(2) The Cr.P.C. 1973, puts no limitation, restriction and condition on exercise of such
17
power,
(3) An Appellate Court on the evidence before it may reach its own conclusion, both on
question of facts and of law.
14
Shanmugham D.V. v. Stae of M. P., AIR 1997 SC 2583
15
Prabhakar Adsule v. State of M.P., (2004) 11 SCC 249
16
AIR 2007 SC (SUPP) 111
17
22 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
¶- It is humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Court that the accused stripped off the victim’s
clothes, asked her to do fellatio, pinned her clothes, slightly inserted his penis into her vulva
and threatened18 her not to disclose this incident. The Hon’ble High Court convicted the
accused for a minor offence under Sec 354, although all the ingredients fulfilling the nature
of Sec 376 of IPC are present.
¶- In the present case, the accused committed the crime with full intention of
penetration without rupturing the hymen. [2.1] Even the slightest penetration will amount to
rape. Non Existence of injury in the Medical Report is immaterial. [2.2]
¶- It is most humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Court that accused has
committed severe crime of rape with a prepubescent girl. The fact that on instruction of the
Respondent, his niece left the room with victim’s younger brother, leaving the victim alone
with the Respondent, clearly shows that it afforded the opportunity to the accused to
commit the offence.
18
Section-503 of IPC- Criminal intimidation. —Whoever threatens another with any injury to his person, reputation
or property, or to the person or reputation of any one in whom that person is interested, with intent to cause alarm to
that person, or to cause that person to do any act which he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do any act which
that person is legally entitled to do, as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat, commits criminal
intimidation. Explanation. —A threat to injure the reputation of any deceased person in whom the person threatened
is interested, is within this section. Illustration A, for the purpose of inducing B to desist from prosecuting a civil suit,
threatens to burn B’s house. A is guilty of criminal intimidation. Sec. 506 of ipc- Punishment for criminal
intimidation
23 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
which they happened, or which afforded an opportunity for their occurrence or transaction,
are relevant.
¶- It is most humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Court that the shortly after
the commission of the act, the victim made a complaint of it to the niece of the Respondent,
relevant under Section 8 of Evidence Act.
“Evidence of recent complaint could be given in a case where consent was not an
issue by virtue of the complainant being under the age of consent”
¶- It is submitted before the court that the Respondent asked the victim for
fellatio. He also slightly inserted his penis into the victim’s vulva.
In Dr. R.M. Jhala’s text book of Medical Jurisprudence, the following passage
is found-
The slightest penetration of penis within the vulva with or without emission of
semen or rupture of hymen constitutes rape. There need not to be intercourse and the act
may not be completed.
19
74 LJ KB 311; 1905 1 KB 551; 92 LT 293
24 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
Rape can occur without causing any injury and hence negative evidence does
not exclude rape.”
“Slightest penetration is sufficient for conviction under Sec. 376 under IPC. Also,
where the penetration was proved but not of such a depth as to injure the hymn, still it was
held to be sufficient to constitute the crime of rape. The view has been taken that “Proof of the
rupture of hymn is unnecessary.
The penetration may not always result in tearing of the hymen and the same will
always depend upon the facts and circumstances of a given case. The court must examine the
evidence of the prosecution in its entirety and then see its cumulative effect to determine
whether the offence of rape has been committed or it is a case of criminal sexual assault or
criminal assault outraging the modesty of the girl.21
In State of UP v. Babul Nath 22 sexual assault was committed on the victim, a girl
about the age of 5 years. The High Court acquitted the accused. In appeal, the Supreme Court
was constrained to observe that the acquittal of the accused was totally unmerited and such
unmerited acquittals, particularly in crimes against girl child encourage the criminals. The
court then said, “The courts have, therefore, to be sensitive while dealing with such cases but
the High Court in the case appears to be far from being sensitive while appreciating the
material on record”.
There is no rule of law that testimony cannot be acted without corroboration in material
particulars. Her testimony has to be appreciated on the principle of probabilities just as the
testimony of any other witness; a high degree of probability having been shown to exist in
view of the subject matter being a criminal charge. 23
The Evidence Act nowhere says that evidence of the victim cannot be accepted unless it is
corroborated in material particulars. She is undoubtedly a competent witness under section
20
JT 2006 12 SC 559
21
Ram Krishan Nagesh v. State of AP 2013 11 SCC 688
22
1994 SCC (6) 29 :1995 (1) CCC 17.
23
State Of Rajasthan vs N. K.2000 SCC Cri 898
25 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
11824 and her evidence must receive the same weight as is attached to an injured in cases of
physical violence. The same degree of care and caution must attach in the evaluation of her
evidence as in the case of any injured complainant or witness and no more.25
¶- It is most humbly submitted before the hon’ble court that the nonexistence of
injury on the victim is immaterial for the offence to constitute rape. It could not be said that
mere absence of the injury either on the person or private parts of the girl would be an
indication of innocence of the accused.
¶- Mere because the medical reports do not mentioned about injury on the private
part, its reliance is not reduced. It is quite possible to commit legally the offence of rape
without producing any injury to the genitals or leaving any seminal stains.26 The absence of
spermatozoa or seminal stains either on the thighs, salwar, panty, or on the glans penis is of
no avail to the accused.27
¶- No injury found on the accused body. This under the circumstance does not
militate against the truth of the prosecution’s story.28
¶-To constitute the penetration, it must be proved that some part of the virile
member of the accused was within the labia of the pudendum of the woman, no matter how
24
Who may testify—All persons shall be competent to testify unless the Court considers that they are prevented from
understanding the questions put to them, or from giving rational answers to those questions, by tender years, extreme
old age, disease, whether of body or mind, or any other cause of the same kind.
Explanation. — A lunatic is not incompetent to testify, unless he is prevented by his lunacy from understanding the
questions put to him and giving rational answers to them.
25
State of Maharashtra V. Chandraprakash Keval Chand Jain 1990 1 SCC 550
26
JAI SINGH P MODI, MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE AND TOXICOLOGY, 729 (12 TH ED. 1998); See also
Aman Kumar v. State of Haryana, 2004 CrL.J 1399.
27
Raj Kapoor v. State, (2009) 2 Crimes 297 (Chha); See also Santosh Kumar v. State of M.P., AIR 2006 SC 3098;
See also State of Rajasthan v. N.K., AIR 2000 SC 1812; See also Sheikh Zakhir v. Stae of Bihar, (1983)
4 SCC 10
28
Abdul Majid v Emperor AIR 1927 LAH. 735 (2)
26 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
little.29 The redness on the labia minora, abrasion on labia majora and labia minora admitted
the little finger shows that slight penetration was done.
¶- It is submitted before the court that the Medical Report of Dr. Issa mentioned
that there was an abrasion on the medial side of labia majora about 1-1/2” in length, redness
present around the labia minora with a white discharge, and hymen was intact and admitted
the tip of little finger.
Furthermore, the statement by the Doctor that redness and white discharge is
maybe due to infection is merely an assumption.
As the hymen is deeply situated and the vagina is less capacious, it is impossible
of the penis to take place. Usually the penis is placed either within the vulva or between the
thighs. As such, the hymen I usually intact, and there maybe little redness and tenderness of
the vulva.
¶- It is submitted that there were no seminal stains found in the virginal smear. The
test took place after 5 days of the occurrence of incidence. Seminal stains can only be present
for 72 hours but the victim was examined after 5 days of incident which usually doesn’t show
the exact report of the seminal stains. It will erroneous to rely completely on the doctor’s
report.
“the opinion of medical officer is to assist the court as he is not a witness of fact
and the evidence given by him is really of an advisory character and not annihilatory of the
witness of fact.”
Modi in Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology (Twenty First Edition) at page 369 which reads
thus:
29
Natha v The Crown AIR 1923 Lah. 536
30
(2014) 1 SCC 516
27 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
Thus, to constitute the offence of rape it is not necessary that there should be complete
penetration of penis with emission of semen and rupture of hymen. Partial penetration of the
penis within the labia majora or the vulva or pudenda with or without emission of semen or even
an attempt at penetration is quite sufficient for the purpose of the law. It is therefore quite possible
to commit legally the offence of rape without producing any injury to the genitals or leaving any
seminal stains. In such a case the medical officer should mention the negative facts in his report,
but should not give his opinion that no rape had been committed. Rape is crime and not a medical
condition. Rape is a legal term and not a diagnosis to be made by the medical officer treating the
victim. The only statement that can be made by the medical officer is that there is evidence of
recent sexual activity. Whether the rape has occurred or not is a legal conclusion, not a medical
one.
If the Court acquits the accused on benefit of doubt, it should be cautious to see that the doubt
should be a reasonable doubt and it should not reverse the findings of the guilt on the basis of
irrelevant circumstances or mere technicalities31
Hence absence of injuries on the victim’s body is immaterial. There is no force in the contention
that if there was any forcible sexual intercourse, it would have resulted in some injuries upon the
prosecutrix. Presence of injuries are not always a sine qua non to prove a charge of rape. It has to
be kept in the mind that the case under consideration is one of rape on a girl child and not on a
grown up woman.32
Courts used to take the position that if there were no proof of physical assault there
would be no rape. The presumption that if no physical injury is evident on the victim, no sexual
intercourse has taken place or rape has not been committed, ignores the fact that rape is not only
an offence involving physical violence, but also psychological violence. This too when existing
laws recognize mental agony and psychological violence as offences against the body. The victim
of rape besides being physically ravished is psychologically wounded.
31
State of MP v. Dayal Sahu 2005 8 SCC 122
32
State of UP v. Ashok Dixit 2000 (3) SCC 770
28 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
“Sexual intercourse: In law, this term is held to mean the slightest degree of
penetration of the vulva by the penis with or without emission of semen. It is therefore, quite
possible to commit legally the offence of rape without producing any injury to the genitals or
leaving any seminal stains.”33
In the first place, it is well settled that the medical jurisprudence is not an exact,
science and it is indeed difficult for any Doctor to say with precision and exactitude as to when a
particular injury is caused.34
It is humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Court that the Respondent confessed his act stating
that “I have raped the girl, but I’ve not ruptured her hymen. You should not be perplexed, I
know what are my limits, I am a doctor. You need not to go to any Doctor.”
He confessed his commission twice. First, in front of the parents of the victim and other
neighbours, second, in front of his parents, in his own house. Respondent voluntarily confessed
his act twice. Hence, he made an extra judicial confession.
Extra judicial confession is admissible under the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Under Sec. 24 of
IEA, 187235, if confession made voluntarily, it will admissible by court.
33
Article by Meenu, 2000 2 SCC 44
34
Pratap Misra and others v. State of Ori.1977 3 SCC 41
35
Section 24- Confession caused by inducement, threat or promise, when irrelevant in criminal proceeding – A
confession made by an accused person is irrelevant in criminal proceeding, if the making of the confession appears to
the court to have been caused by any inducement, threat or promise, having reference to the charge against the
accused person, proceeding from a person in authority and sufficient, in the opinion of the court, to give the accused
person grounds which would appear to him reasonable for supposing that by making it, he would gain any advantage
or avoid any evil of a temporal nature in reference to the proceedings against him.
29 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
Rejecting the view of trial courts in this case, mere allegation of threat or inducement is not
enough; in the court’s opinion, such inducement must be sufficient to cause a reasonable belief
in the mind of the accused that by so confessing, he would get an advantage.37
Respondent was a freeman when he made the confession. He was not only in his own house but
surrounded by his own family members. Hence no threat, inducement or promise was made.
The Supreme Court of India held in Narayan Singh’s38 case, “It is not open to any
court to start with a presumption that extra-judicial confession is a weak type of evidence”
An extra- Judicial confession, if voluntary can be relied upon by the court along with
other evidence in convicting the accused, the confession will have to be proved just like any
other fact.39
In Piara Singh v. State of Punjab40 the Supreme Court remarked the value of Extra Judicial
confession –
“Law does not require that the evidence of an Extra Judicial confession should in all cases be
corroborated.”
In Ramlal v. State of Himachal Pradesh41 , Justice R Banumathi and Justice Indira Banerjee
said –
“If the court is satisfied that if the confession is voluntary, the conviction can be based upon the
36
Laxman v. State of Raj. (1997) 2 Crimes 125 (Raj).
37
Ramlal v. State of Himachal Pradesh 2006 Cri. LJ 939
38
AIR 1985 SC P.1678.
39
Mulk Raj v. State of U.P. AIR 1959 SC P.902.
40
1977 4 SCC 459
41
(2006) Cri. LJ 939
30 | P a g e MEMORIALONTHEBEHALFOFAPPELLANT
same. Rule of prudence does not require that each and every circumstance mentioned in the
confession with regards to the participation to the accused must be separately and independently
corroborated.”
It is submitted before the Hon’ble Court that the witnesses were not interested witnesses but
related witnesses. It was held in Dalbir Kaur v. State of Punjab42, “A close relative, who is a
very natural witness in the circumstances of a case, cannot be regarded as an 'interested witness',
as held by the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
In Brathi v. State of Punjab43, the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that no doubt criminal court has
to appreciate evidence given by witnesses who are closely related to the victim and the court
must be careful in evaluating their evidence, but mechanical rejection of the evidence on the sole
ground that the witness being related to the victim is an interested witness would invariably lead
to miscarriage of justice.
The mere fact that the witnesses were relations or interested would not by itself be sufficient to
discard their evidence straightway unless it is proved that their evidence suffers from serious
infirmities which raises considerable doubt in the mind of the court. For that the decision of the
Hon'ble Supreme Court in State of Gujrat v. Naginbhai Dhulabhai Patel44 may be seen.
Similar view was taken by this Court in Ram Bharosey v. State of U.P.45, where the Court stated
the dictum of law that a close relative of the deceased does not, per se, become
an interested witness. An interested witness is one who is interested in securing the conviction
of a person out of vengeance or enmity or due to disputes and deposes before the court only with
that intention and not to further the cause of justice. The law relating to appreciation of evidence
of an interested witness is well settled, according to which, the version of
an interested witness cannot be thrown overboard but must be examined carefully before
accepting the same.
The learned sessions judge brushed aside their evidence by presuming that their
statement constituting an extra judicial confession is a very weak type of evidence. this is a
wrong view of law. It is not open to any court to start with a presumption that extra judicial
confession is a weak type of evidence.
Law does not require that the evidence of an extra judicial confession should in all
cases be corroborated.47
It is humbly submitted before the hon’ble court that traumatic event left both short
term and long-term agony over the victim and her family. The sexual abuse can impact the
adjustment of the child victim throughout the development. Therefore, considering the gravity
of the offence, the fine imposed by hon’ble high court is grossly inadequate.
Delay in lodging the report in such a case is immaterial. The improvements made
by the prosecutrix were not such as to discredit her testimony. He, therefore, supported the
conclusion reached by the High Court and sought dismissal of the appeals.
Also, the offence caused emotional and psychological trauma to the victim and her
family [4.1], Considering the gravity of the offence maximum fine should be provided [4.2].
¶-It is humbly submitted before the hon’ble court that victim and her family faced traumatic
situation after the incident, they become helpless and horrified. Victims are often too young to
know how to express what is happening in seek out help. This can result in a lifetime of
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), depression and anxiety.
47
Piara Singh and others v. State of Pun. AIR 1977 SC 2274
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¶-The offence of rape leaves a permanent scar and has a serious psychological impact on the
victim and her family members and, therefore, no one would normally concoct a story of
rape just to falsely implicate a person. In the present case there was not even an iota of
evidence to show that the Appellant or his family had any reason whatsoever to falsely
implicate the Respondent.
¶-It submitted that trauma resulted from sexual abuse is a syndrome that affects not
just the victim and their family, but all our society. Because sexual abuse, molestation and
rape are such shame-filled concept, are cultured tends to supress information about that.
¶-In Report of the Justice J.S. Verma Committee on Amendments to Criminal Law, the
following passage is found-
“Rape, sexual assault, eve-teasing and stalking are matters of serious concern –
not only because of the physical, emotional, and psychological trauma which engender in
the victim, but also because these are practices which are being tolerated by a society
ostensibly wedded to the rule of law”.
¶- The Court ignores the fact that rape is not only an offence involving physical
violence, but also psychological violence. This too when existing laws recognize mental agony
and psychological violence as offences against the body. The trauma that she is going through
will not let her public relations skills to develop, a prerequisite for her vocation. It will be
devastating for her as well as her parents who have invested so much in her and her future.
¶-Rape cannot be treated as only a sexual crime, but it should be viewed as a crime
involving aggression which leads to the domination of the prosecutrix. In case of rape, besides
the psychological trauma, there is also social stigma to the victim. Majority of rapes are not
sudden occurrences but are generally well planned. Social stigma has a devastating effect on
the rape victim. It is violation of her right to privacy. Such victims need physical, mental,
psychological and social rehabilitation. Physically she must feel safe in the society, mentally
she needs help to restore her lost self- esteem, psychologically she needs help to overcome her
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depression and socially she needs to be accepted back in the social fold. Rape is a blatant
violation of woman’s bodily integrity.48
It is humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Court that having regard to the
seriousness and gravity of this repugnant crime of rape, maximum fine should be provided.
There has been a gross violation of right to life to the victim.
¶- It is submitted before the Hon’ble Court that, Article 21 of the Constitution of India reads,
“No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure
established by law”. Rape is intent to humiliate, violate and degrade a woman or child
sexually and, therefore, adversely affects the sexual integrity and autonomy of women and
children in violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. 50
48
Mohd. Iqbal and another v. State of Jharkhand 2013, 14 SCC 481
49
Regina v. billam and others 1986 1WLR349
50
Sakshi v. Union of India, AIR 2004 SC 3566
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¶- It has been a clear violation of her right to life, liberty and dignity. Hence, strict
measures must be adhered to on the accused guilty of crime. The severity and graveness of
offence should be a substantial consideration while sentencing the accused.
¶-It is submitted before the court that, a person committing rape on a girl whose body has not
even matured is an evil and devious act. Death penalty is apt for such a heinous crime and it
will act as a deterrent. One of such supporters is retired Justice P.D. Kode of the Bombay
High Court said that such offence is a “dastardly act” and is inflicted on minors who are
actually incapable of protecting themselves and therefore, the punishment of death penalty is
not harsh.
In many countries such as Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, the UAE, China, Cuba,
Mauritania, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia and Vietnam death penalty prevails for the
offence of rape against minors.
¶- The death penalty is necessary not because the preservation of society requires
it but because society demands it.51
“Of late, crime against women in general and rape in particular is on the increase. It is an
irony that while we are celebrating woman’s rights in all spheres, we show little or no
concern for her honour. It is a sad reflection on the attitude of indifference of the society
towards the violation of human dignity of the victims of sex crimes. We must remember that a
rapist not only violates the victim’s privacy and personal integrity, but inevitably causes
serious psychological as well as physical harm in the process. Rape is not merely a physical
assault — it is often destructive of the whole personality of the victim. A murderer destroys
the physical body of his victim, a rapist degrades the very soul of the helpless female. The
51
Bishnu Deo Shaw v. State of WB 1979 AIR 964
52
1996 AIR 1393, 1996 SCC (2) 384
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courts, therefore, shoulder a great responsibility while trying an accused on charges of rape.
They must deal with such cases with utmost sensitivity. The courts should examine the
broader probabilities of a case and not get swayed by minor contradictions or insignificant
discrepancies in the statement of the prosecutrix, which are not of a fatal nature, to throw out
an otherwise reliable prosecution case.”
¶-In the present case, the offence of rape has been committed on the minor girl
which, in itself, is grave and, moreover, a heinous crime and hence, no leniency should be
considered by this Court.
¶- It was held in State of Andhra Pradesh v. Polamala Raju53 that the measure of
punishment must depend upon the conduct of the accused, the state and age of the sexually
assaulted female and the gravity of the criminal act. Crimes of violence upon women need to
be severely dealt with.
Imposing death penalty on the offenders for rape against minor girl below the age
of 12 will no mean that all the accused will be hanged but every case will be judged
according to the facts and circumstances of its own, the maximum punishment for the
offence being death penalty.
¶- It is submitted before the Hon’ble Court that, according to the National Crime
Records Bureau, the number of rape cases against minor girls are increasing day by day. This
is because of the incapability of minors to defend themselves. This is because the criminals
and violators do not fear law. People do not have faith in the laws prevailing. Once the
society get reassurance that in such heinous cases law will come to aid to the victim,
reporting will increase, and no case will go unregistered.
“Of late, crime against women in general and rape in particular is on the
increase. It is an irony that while we are celebrating women's rights in all spheres, we show
little or no concern for her honour. it is a sad reflection on the attitude of indifference of the
53
State of Andhra Pradesh v. Polamala Raju, AIR 2000 SC 2854
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society towards the violation of human dignity of the victims of sex crimes. We must
remember that a rapist not only violates the victim's privacy and personal integrity, but
inevitably causes serious psychological as well as physical harm in the process. Rape is not
merely a physical harm in the process. Rape is not merely a physical assault - it is often
destructive of the whole personality of the victim. A murderer destroys the physical body of
his victim, a rapist degrades the very soul of the helpless female. The courts, therefore,
shoulder a great responsibility while trying an accused on charges of rape. They must deal
with such cases with utmost sensitivity. The courts should examine then broader probabilities
of a case and not get swayed by minor contradictions or insignificant discrepancies in the
statement of the prosecutrix, which are not of a fatal nature, to throw out an otherwise
reliable prosecution case. If evidence of the prosecutrix inspires confidence, it must be relied
upon without seeking corroboration of her statement in material particulars. If for some
reason the court finds it difficult to place implicit reliance on her testimony, it may look for
evidence which may lend assurance to her testimony, short of corroboration required in the
case of an accomplice. The testimony of an accomplice. The testimony of the prosecutrix
must be appreciated in the background of the entire case and the trial court must be alive to
its responsibility and be sensitive while dealing with cases involving sexual molestations.”54
Child rape cases are cases of perverse lust for sex where even innocent children
are not sphered in pursued of sexual pleasure. It is a crime against humanity. In such cases,
responsibility on the shoulders of the court is more onerous so as to provide proper legal
protection to these children. Their physical and mental immobility call for such protection.
Children are the natural resource of our country. They are the country’s future. Hope of
tomorrow rests on them. In our country, a girl child is in a very vulnerable position and one
of the modes of her exploitation is rape besides other modes of sexual abuse. These factors
point towards a different approach required to be adopted. It is necessary for the courts to
have a sensitive approach when dealing with cases of child rape. The effect of such a crime
on the mind of the child is likely to be lifelong. A special safeguard has been provided for
children in the Constitution of India in Art. 39.55
54
State Of Punjab vs Gurmit Singh & Ors 1996 AIR 1393, 1996 SCC (2) 384
55
Joseph v. State of Kerala 2000 (5) SCC 197
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PRAYER
In the light of the issues raised, arguments advanced and authorities cited, may this
Hon’ble Court be pleased to:
I. Hold that the accused is guilty of the offence under Section 376 of the India Penal
Code.
II. Declare that the High court was not justified in punishing the accused for a minor
offence under Sec 354.
AND/OR
Pass any other order that it deems fit in the interest of Justice, Equity and Good
Conscience.
And for this, the Appellant as in duty bound, shall humbly pray.