New Delhi, February 14: The Supreme Court has held that in rape cases the testimony of the victim cannot be considered to be the gospel truth, though in normal circumstances her statement has to be relied upon.
A bench of justices H S Bedi and J M Panchal said while primacy has to be given to victim’s statement, there can be no presumption that she is telling the ultimate truth as the charge has to be proved “beyond reasonable doubt” as in any other criminal case.
“We are conscious of the fact that in a matter of rape, the statement of victim must be given primary consideration.
–PTI