Latest news with #ArmyWelfareFundBattleCasualties
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Community service saves the day for Pocso accused
NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC has quashed a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act after the complainant and her mother expressed their decision to move on from the incident. The Court directed the accused to perform one month of community service at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital and deposit Rs 50,000 with the 'Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualties.' Justice Sanjeev Narula passed the order in a case involving allegations of harassment and exploitation of a minor school-going girl. The Court stated that although it was initially not inclined to quash the FIR in a 'perfunctory manner,' it changed its view after a 'detailed and careful interaction' with the complainant and her mother. During the hearing, both made it clear that they had 'consciously chosen to move on from the incident.' 'They expressed that the Complainant is currently exploring matrimonial prospects, and that the pendency of a criminal case may result as a serious impediment to her future opportunities and personal relationships. Her mother specifically submitted that ongoing criminal proceedings of this nature are likely to create social stigma and could undermine the family's efforts to secure a suitable match for the Complainant,' the Court recorded in order dated May 27.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Delhi High Court quashes Pocso FIR, directs accused to do community service
New Delhi: Delhi High Court has quashed an FIR under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, but directed the accused to perform community service for a month at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital. The man was accused of harassing and threatening a minor school-going girl. A single-judge bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula also ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 as costs, to be deposited towards Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualties. "Having regard to the nature of allegations, this court finds it appropriate to direct the petitioner to undertake community service as a measure of accountability and reflection," the judge said, ordering community service from June 1 to 30, 2025. Initially, the court was not inclined to quash the FIR in a perfunctory manner. However, after a detailed and careful interaction with the complainant and her mother, the court noted that they consciously chose to move on. "They expressed that the complainant is currently exploring matrimonial prospects, and that the pendency of a criminal case may result as a serious impediment to her future opportunities and personal relationships," the bench said. "Her mother specifically submitted that ongoing criminal proceedings of this nature are likely to create social stigma and could undermine the family's efforts to secure a suitable match for the complainant," it added. The FIR was registered under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman to outrage her modesty), 354C (voyeurism), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (insulting modesty of a woman), 384 (extortion) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code and Section 12 (sexual harassment) of Pocso Act . A settlement deed was entered into between the parties, according to which the complainant voluntarily resolved all her disputes with the accused and agreed to give no objection to the quashing of the FIR. It was recorded that she neither received any monetary compensation from the accused nor intended to claim any. The court noted that ordinarily, allegations of such nature, particularly those involving the sexual harassment of a minor, would not merit quashing. However, it added that the law was equally cognisant of the survivor's right to privacy, dignity and closure. Observing that the allegations pertain to a deeply troubling pattern of coercion and intimidation directed at a school-going minor, including threats to publicly disseminate her private photographs in exchange for money, the bench said that such behaviour, if true, reflected a gross misuse of digital platforms and an alarming disregard for consent and personal dignity.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Perform community service, pay ₹50k to Army welfare fund: Delhi HC to POCSO accused
New Delhi, The Delhi High Court has directed a POCSO accused to perform community service at a government hospital and pay ₹50,000 towards "Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualties" and quashed the FIR against him. Disapproving the conduct of the accused who allegedly threatened a minor school student with dissemination of her private photographs if she did not fulfil his demands for money, Justice Sanjeev Narula said such behaviour reflected a "gross misuse of digital platforms" and "an alarming disregard for consent and personal dignity". The court said the allegations were "undoubtedly serious", involving charges of harassment and exploitation of a minor girl, which disclosed "a pattern emblematic of the darker undercurrents of the social media age, where technology is misused to exert control, induce fear, and compromise dignity". Ordinarily, such allegations, the court added, would not merit quashing of the FIR but the law was equally cognisant of the victim's right to privacy, dignity, and closure. "The complainant has unequivocally expressed her desire to move on from this chapter, and has articulated social and emotional burden that the continued pendency of this criminal case may place upon her, particularly in the context of her future prospects, including marriage," said the court in its May 27 verdict. Quashing the FIR, the court directed the petitioner to perform "community service as a measure of accountability and reflection". He was also saddled with ₹50,000 fine towards the welfare fund of Army personnel. The court ordered the petitioner to perform a month of community service at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital in June and file a certificate confirming the same with the registry subsequently. In the event of any absenteeism, default, or misconduct during the course of the community service, the medical superintendent was directed to immediately alert the police official concerned for placing the matter before the court for appropriate orders, including revival of the FIR. The court also took on record the petitioner's statement claiming he hadn't retained any of the private photographs. The petitioner, who was senior student in the complainant girl's school, allegedly asked for her private photographs in 2017, insisting that such exchanges were common in romantic relationships. Following a disagreement, the parties ceased communication. In February 2018, however, the petitioner allegedly blackmailed the complainant and demanded ₹6,000 and threatened to share her photos online if she didn't pay. The complainant claimed of having subsequently made several payments under duress. In April 2018, a friend of the petitioner also blackmailed the complainant following which she paid him out of fear, she alleged. The FIR was registered against the petitioner in 2019 for voyeurism, assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty, criminal intimidation and other offences under IPC besides the offence of sexual harassment under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
