New Delhi: In a powerful statement against child sexual abuse, a Delhi court has sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of his minor daughter, declaring that such crimes must be met with the strictest possible punishment to deter future offenders.
Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Nagar, in his May 6 order, stressed that offences against children cannot be tolerated under any circumstances, and courts must send a clear and uncompromising message that predators will be dealt with severely under the law. The man was convicted under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code.
The horrific incident took place on December 30, 2021, when the survivor, who had been staying with her maternal grandparents after her mother’s death, was brought to her father’s home. The court noted that the father violated her trust and dignity, forcibly confining and sexually assaulting her.
यह भी पढ़ें: Delhi: नाबालिग बेटी से बलात्कार के मामले में पिता को 20 साल की सजा, कोर्ट ने ₹10.5 लाख मुआवज़ा देने का आदेश दिया
In a desperate attempt to save herself, the girl scratched her father’s face and, once released, stabbed him in the neck with a knife, before unlocking the door and narrating the ordeal to the landlady.
While acknowledging the convict’s poverty and lack of previous criminal convictions as mitigating factors, the court held that the gravity of the offence demanded stern punishment. The judge observed that there was no evidence suggesting the man was beyond reformation, but insisted the sentence must act as a deterrent to society.
Recognising the trauma and long-term impact on the survivor, the court also awarded her ₹10.5 lakh as compensation to support her rehabilitation, recovery, and dignity.
This ruling stands as a reminder of the judiciary’s zero tolerance for crimes against children and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring justice and support for victims of heinous sexual violence.
