In Brief
A deaf and dumb mentally retarded minor victim was raped by a landlord in 2008. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 376 IPC, but the High Court acquitted him on the ground that the victim had not been directly examined as a witness. The Supreme Court restored the conviction, holding that while the victim's direct testimony is valuable, credible corroborating evidence—including the mother's testimony, independent eyewitnesses, and medical evidence—suffices to prove rape and the accused's identity. The Court also issued directions for all High Courts to establish special centres for vulnerable witnesses with safeguards like screens, written cross-examination questions, and rest breaks.
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