Compromised Rape Case: SC

BALDEV SINGH & ORS. vs. STATE OF PUNJAB
  
                 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 749 OF 2007


                  
                          O R D E R

         This   appeal   has   been   filed   against   the   impugned judgment dated 27.0.2005 IN CRLA No. 242 of 1999 of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh.  

         The   facts   of   the   case   have   been   set   out   in   the judgment   of   the   High   Court   and   hence   we   are   not repeating the same here, except where necessary.

         The   prosecution   case   is   that   on   03.03.1997   at about 6.30 A.M. the prosecutrix was coming to her house after answering the call of nature. The three appellants caught her and took her into a house and raped her and beat   her.     After   police   investigation   the   appellants were charge sheeted,   and after a trial were convicted under   Section   376   (2)   (g)   and   Section   342     I.P.C.   and sentenced   to   10   years   R.I.   and   to   pay   a   fine   of   Rs. 1,000/-   each.     The   sentence   was   upheld   by   the   High
Court, and hence this appeal.

         Admittedly the appellants have already undergone, about 3 and = years imprisonment each.  The incident is 14   years   old.     The   appellants   and   the   prosecutrix   are married  (not to each other).  The prosecutrix  has also two   children.     An   application   and   affidavit   has   been filed before us stating that the parties want to finish the   dispute,   have   entered   into   a   compromise   on 01.09.2007,   and   that   the   accused   may   be   acquitted   and now there is no misunderstanding between them.

        Section   376   is   a   non   compoundable   offence, However, the fact that  the incident is an old one, is a circumstance for invoking the proviso to Section 376 (2) (g) and awarding a sentence less than 10 years, which is ordinarily the minimum sentence under that provision, as we think that there are adequate and special reasons for doing so.  

        On   the   facts   of   the   case,   considering   that   the incident happened in the year 1997 and that the parties have themselves entered into a compromise, we uphold the conviction  of the  appellant but  we reduce  the sentence to the period of sentence already undergone in view of the   proviso   to   Section   376   (2)   (g)   which   for   adequate and   special   reasons   permits   imposition   of   a   lesser sentence.  However, we direct that each of the appellant will pay a sum of Rupees 50,000/- by way of enhancement
of fine to the victim envisaged under Section 376 of the IPC itself.  The fine shall be paid within three months
from today.  In the event of failure to pay the enhanced amount of fine it will be recovered as arrears of land
revenue and will be given to the victim.

       The appeal is disposed off.      

                                   ...................J.
                                   [MARKANDEY KATJU]
                                   ...................J.
                                   [GYAN SHDHA MISRA]
NEW DELHI;
FEBRUARY 22, 2011