In Brief
A blind woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste was raped by the appellant, who was known to her family. The Sessions Court and High Court convicted him of both rape under Section 376(1) IPC and an enhanced offence under Section 3(2)(v) of the SC & ST Act, imposing life imprisonment. The Supreme Court upheld the rape conviction and life sentence but set aside the conviction under Section 3(2)(v) because the prosecution failed to prove the offence was committed "on the ground that" the victim was a Scheduled Caste member. The judgment affirms the victim's testimony (identifying the accused by voice) is reliable despite her blindness, and emphasizes how intersecting identities—gender, disability, and caste—compound oppression and vulnerability.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.