Father sentenced to life imprisonment for raping minor daughter

13/09/2026

JAMMU, Sep 12: A Special Fast Track Court for POCSO cases in Jammu has sentenced a father to rigorous imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life for repeatedly raping his minor daughter.
Special Judge Renu Dogra Gupta pronounced the sentencing order on September 12, days after convicting the accused under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The court awarded life imprisonment under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000, with two months' simple imprisonment in default of payment. It also awarded one year of rigorous imprisonment under Section 506 IPC, to run concurrently with the life sentence.
The case arose from FIR No. 185/2022 registered at Police Station Akhnoor. According to the prosecution, the sexual abuse began when the victim was a schoolchild and continued over a period of time.
The matter came to light in June 2022 after the distressed child disclosed the abuse to a friend and schoolteachers. Following examination of the disclosure by the school's POCSO Committee, the principal forwarded her written complaint to police.
During investigation, police recorded the victim's statements before a magistrate and collected medical, forensic and electronic evidence. A mobile phone and bedsheet were also seized. The prosecution examined 22 witnesses during the trial.
The defence claimed that the accused had been falsely implicated after he objected to his daughter's friendship with a male friend. It also questioned the prosecution's failure to formally prove videos allegedly recorded by the victim.
Rejecting the defence arguments, the court found the victim's testimony cogent, consistent and trustworthy. It held that the failure to prove the videos did not warrant discarding reliable oral evidence, while minor contradictions on peripheral issues did not undermine the prosecution's case.
The court also held that the prosecution had established the foundational facts necessary to invoke the presumption under Section 29 of the POCSO Act, which the accused failed to rebut convincingly.
During arguments on sentence, the prosecution sought the maximum punishment, highlighting that the convict had sexually assaulted his own biological daughter. The defence sought leniency, citing his status as the family's sole breadwinner, prolonged custody and claimed good conduct during detention.
Describing the offence as "extremely grave and reprehensible", the court observed that the father-daughter relationship is based on trust, protection and care, but the convict had abused his position of trust and authority and subjected his daughter to sexual violence.
The court held that while the case did not warrant the death penalty, punishment merely at the statutory minimum would not adequately meet the ends of justice. It considered the victim's age, the breach of parental trust, gravity of the offence and its impact, along with mitigating circumstances.
It also observed that the survivor's subsequent marriage could not diminish the seriousness of the offence.
Applying Section 42 of the POCSO Act, the court imposed punishment under Section 6 of the Act, which provided the greater punishment for the sexual offence, instead of awarding a separate sentence under Section 376 IPC.
The court further directed that a copy of the sentencing order be forwarded to the Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Jammu, for consideration of compensation to the survivor.

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