In Brief
The Supreme Court set aside the Patna High Court's acquittal of individuals convicted of rape under the POCSO Act. The High Court had acquitted the accused based on alleged inconsistencies regarding the victim's age, timing of the incident, and lack of documentation. The Supreme Court held that trivial inconsistencies and minor discrepancies cannot elevate doubt to the "beyond reasonable doubt" standard required in criminal trials. The Court emphasized that once a child's minority is established, reasonable doubt must be serious and rational. The conviction was restored, noting that the victim's testimony was consistent across all proceedings and corroborated by medical evidence. The Court clarified that procedural irregularities do not vitiate convictions unless they cause actual prejudice to the accused.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.