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Supreme Court of India 2026-03-24 allowed

State of Himachal Pradesh vs Hukum Chand alias Monu

Bench: 2 — Sanjay Karol, Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh

In Brief

A nine-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her neighbor's son in August 2007. The trial court convicted the accused under rape law and the SC/ST Act. However, the high court acquitted him, citing minor inconsistencies, delay in reporting, and implausible travel distance. The Supreme Court reversed the acquittal, holding that the child victim's credible testimony alone suffices for conviction. Minor contradictions do not undermine truthful evidence. Medical findings corroborated the assault. Courts must avoid hyper-technical scrutiny and protect victim identity under law.

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Criminal Law Rape Sexual Assault Child Witness Testimony Evidence Medical Evidence Victim Protection Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act Criminal Procedure Credibility Assessment Acquittal and Conviction

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