Supreme Court: The Supreme Court of India has suspended the rape conviction of an accused as the Bench’s ‘sixth sense’ signalled towards reunion of the accused and complainant.
A consensual relationship turned into a criminal complaint after the relationship failed to culminate in marriage. While hearing the man’s plea, a bench of the apex court observed that it had a ‘sixth sense’ that the accused and the victim could be reunited.
The accused and complainant came to know each other through social media in 2015, and their relationship eventually turned romantic. However, when the connection did not end in marriage, the woman filed a complaint in 2021 against her then-boyfriend under Sections 376 and 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code.
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Trial Court Sentences Accused To 10 Years In Jail
After hearing the case, a trial court convicted the man of rape and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. After the High Court declined bail, the accused approached the Supreme Court.
An SC bench of Justices V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma decided to suspend the conviction after holding a conversation with the accused, the complainant and their respective families to understand the nature of the relationship.
The Couple Got Married In July
The court granted interim bail to the accused for marriage after the couple expressed their willingness to marry with family consent. The couple got married in July.
What Court Observed During Interaction With Family
The court noted that the delay in marriage had made the girl insecure, leading to the filing of a rape complaint against her partner. "We have exercised our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution. We feel that a consensual relationship turned into a crime due to a misunderstanding," the judgment said.
Earlier this month, the court was informed that the couple is leading a happy married life. The SC bench quashed the complaint, conviction and 10-year sentence.
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Court Orders Reinstatement Of Man’s Job In MP Hospital
The Supreme Court has also directed the reinstatement of the man to his position at the government hospital, along with payment of his full salary for the entire suspension period. The Chief Medical Officer of Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh has been ordered to immediately revoke the suspension and clear all pending dues.