Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: 3rd Additional Sessions Judge Jammu Haq Nawaz Zargar has awarded life-imprisonment and fine of Rs 50,000 to Rakesh Kumar, son of Thoru Ram of Chowadhi, who had committed rape with 8-years old girl.
After hearing APP Vijay Sharma for the State, court observed, “convict Rakesh Kumar and his counsel could not point out any adequate or special reason to award him a sentence less than the maximum provided for the offence under Section 376 RPC”.
“At the same time, court is of the view that it is not the case where the minimum sentence needs to be awarded to the convict. Sentence under Section 376 RPC can be extended up to life and not less than ten years. It is a settled principle that the responsibility of a court does not end by mere conviction in a criminal case, appropriate and adequate sentence must also be awarded keeping in mind the need to protect the society from crime and need to adopt corrective method as called for in the facts and circumstances of each case”, 3rd Additional Sessions Judge said.
“The convict in present case has destroyed the entire psychology of an eight years old girl and pushed her into deep emotional crises and the victim of such tender age shall throughout her life undergo the trauma and agony she suffered by the act of convict”, the court said.
Accordingly, court awarded life imprisonment to the accused and imposed fine of Rs 50000 for the offence under Section 376 RPC. “In default of payment of fine, he shall further undergo simple imprisonment for six months”, the court said, adding “the fine, if deposited by the accused shall be paid to the minor victim”.
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