New Delhi: A youth has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl at a wedding, by a Delhi court which refused to take a lenient view towards him while observing future well-being of a nation depends on how its children grow.
Additional Sessions Judge Gautam Manan, while handing down the jail term to 24-year-old Udhav, said, The nature of the offence committed by the convict does not demand that he be released on probation. Keeping in view of the overall circumstances of the case, interest of justice would be met, if the convict is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a period of 10 years along with fine of Rs 5,000, the judge said.
The court also observed, Concept of welfare and well- being of children is basic for any civilised society and this has a direct bearing on the state of health and well-being of the entire community, its growth and development. It has been time and again emphasised that the children are a ‘supremely important national asset’ and the future well- being of the nation depends on how its children grow and develop.
While sentencing the youth for committing the offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the court also directed that victim be granted compensation for her rehabilitation. In order to provide restorative and compensatory justice to the victim, Rs 2,00,000 is granted to her as compensation, it said, while directing Delhi State Legal Service Authority (DSLSA), North District, to ensure that the amount is given to the parents of the victim within one month.
According to the prosecution, on May 20, 2013, when the victim was at a relative’s wedding, she suddenly went missing. After searching for the girl for sometime, her parents found her in a frightened condition and the girl told them that the accused had gagged her mouth and sexualy assaulted her, the police said.
The accused was then caught by the guests at the wedding who beat him up and handed him over to the cops. During the trial, the accused had denied the allegations and claimed he was falsely implicated.
PTI