12 yrs RI awarded to rapist

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: Presiding Officer of Fast Track Court, Kishore Kumar today awarded 12 years Rigorous Imprison-ment and fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rakesh Kumar alias Angrez Singh, a resident of Bishnah, who was facing trial in rape case.
After hearing APP Sarwesh Gupta for the State whereas Advocate Anmol Sharma for the accused, the court awarded 12 years RI to the accused and imposed fine of Rs one lakh. “The fine shall be realized from the accused and paid to the victim”, the court said, adding “the State should   provide monetary assistance to the victim out of its own funds on its failure to protect the dignity of its citizens being their custodian”.
“A compensation of Rs one lakh will be a just and reasonable amount for providing financial assistance to the family of victim which shall be paid within one month by the State Government after the expiry of appeal time”, the court said.
“The purpose of just punishment is designed so that the individuals in the society which ultimately constitute the collective do not suffer time and again for such crimes. It serves as a deterrent. True it is, on certain occasions, opportunities may be granted to the convict for reforming himself but it is equally true that the principle of proportionality between an offence committed and the penalty imposed are to be kept in view”, the court said.
“While carrying out this complex exercise, it is obligatory on the part of the court to see the impact of the offence on the society as a whole and its ramifications on the immediate collective as well as its repercussions on the victim”, the Presiding Officer said.