Negative DNA report does not exonerate an accused in rape cases: Tripura High Court
“The purpose of DNA test in rape case is to facilitate the prosecution to prove its case against the accused and merely because the DNA test has a negative report”.
POCSO
“His right to earn livelihood cannot be curtailed”: Allahabad HC grants bail to father who repeatedly raped his minor daughter
“The conviction and sentence awarded to convict shall also remain suspended during the pendency of this appeal, since he is a Government servant and his right to earn his livelihood for survival cannot be curtailed because of implication in this case.”
Supreme Court stays Delhi HC’s order suspending Kuldeep Sengar’s sentence in Unnao Rape Case
In its order dated 23-12-2024, Delhi High Court had expressed satisfaction that offence under Section 5(c) of the POCSO Act was not made out against Kuldeep Sengar on account of him not falling within the definition of a “public servant” and therefore suspended his sentence during the pendency of the Appeal.
Know Thy Judge | Supreme Court of India: Justice Satish Chandra Sharma’s remarkable career trajectory & notable judgments
Following a meticulous assessment of the qualifications, integrity, capabilities and giving due consideration to a range of factors, the President appointed Justice Satish Chandra Sharma as Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 9-11-2023.
‘Offence was not pre-meditated’; Allahabad HC commutes death sentence to life imprisonment of man who raped and killed his 5-month-old cousin
The Court reiterated that though in a rape and murder case based on circumstantial evidence, the death penalty can be awarded in the ‘rarest of rare’, normally imprisonment for life without any remission may be awarded, unless a death sentence is inevitable.
Supreme Court September 2025 | Landmark ruling on Waqf Act; Vantara Clean Chit; Project Ability Empowerment; Allegations against NUJS VC; and more
Stay informed on the latest Supreme Court judgments of September 2025 on Waqf Act; affirmation of clean chit to Reliance’s Vantara; 8 NLUs directed to undertake Project Ability Empowerment; Directions for improver Beggars’ Homes and Court coming to the aid of communal riots victim. Explore notable rulings shaping the legal landscape.
Know Thy Judge | Supreme Court of India: Justice Joymalya Bagchi’s stellar career and notable judgments
Justice Joymalya Bagchi formerly serving as Judge of Calcutta High Court was appointed to the Supreme Court on 10-3-2025 and is in line to become the CJI in 2031.
‘Stigma of rape should not be on the victim but the perpetrator’; Delhi HC refuses to quash FIR in POCSO case; Imposes Rs 10,000 as costs
“There has to be paradigm shift in societal mindset by attaching stigma to the accused and not to the girl who underwent the horrid suffering by way of rape.”
“Procedure is not supposed to control justice”; SC restores conviction & sentence of men who raped a minor girl in 2016
“It is always a matter of utter failure for the system when a culprit, that too of a heinous sexual offence, manages to walk free by entangling the victim in misapplication of procedural rules, without the knowledge of the victim and without any control of the victim”.
Know Thy Judge | Supreme Court of India: Justice J.B. Pardiwala’s expansive career and key rulings
A 4th generation lawyer, Justice Jamshed Burjor Pardiwala assumed office as Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 09-05-2022 and is in line to become the Chief Justice of India in 2028. Justice Pardiwala is expected to serve a two-year and three months term as Chief Justice of India from 03-05-2028 to 11-08-2030.
Criminal Law July 2025: A Dive into the Month’s Biggest Criminal Cases
Covering all the important criminal cases across various High Courts and the Supreme Court, this roundup provides a quick summary of cases, links to other roundups and a few top stories of the July 2025.
POCSO| ‘No mitigation for crimes that subvert notion of family as space of security’; SC upholds father’s life sentence
“Incestuous sexual violence committed by a parent is a distinct category of offence that tears through the foundational fabric of familial trust and must invite the severest condemnation in both language and sentence”.
‘Cyberbullying can be as traumatic as physical abuse’; Delhi HC upholds POCSO conviction; Bats for safer digital spaces for children
“What is deeply concerning is the use of technology to commit cyberbullying — an act that, while faceless and silent, can be as mentally traumatic and scarring as physical violence, especially when directed towards children.”
‘Despite counseling, minor rape victim opts against full-term pregnancy’; Allahabad HC permits termination at 31 weeks
The Court had acknowledged that while the right to reproductive autonomy, including the right to terminate a pregnancy, as well as the dignity and privacy of the pregnant person, are paramount.
Constitutional bar against retrospectively imposing harsher penalty is clear and absolute: Supreme Court modifies sentence in POCSO case
Since the offence was committed on 20-5-2019, the amended provision of Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 2019, which came into force on 16-8-2019, could not have been applied to his case.
Allahabad HC directs probe into fake Arya Samaj Societies conducting illegal marriages
The Court noted that several marriages had been conducted by such societies, even of minor girls, in violation of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
‘Will defeat purpose of POCSO Act’; Bombay HC denies bail to man for allegedly committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault on minor boy
“The Courts have consistently held that while considering bail in cases involving sexual offences against minors, the traumatic effect on the victim and the possibility of the accused influencing or intimidating the victim or witnesses must be given due consideration.”
HIGH COURT JUNE 2025 WEEKLY ROUNDUP | Burger Singh’s Trade mark; News Minute’s Gag Order; Idol Immersion; and more
A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from all High Courts this week.
Know Thy Newly Appointed Supreme Court Judge: Justice N.V. Anjaria
Justice Nilay Vipinchandra Anjaria was serving as the 34th Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court prior to being appointed as Judge of Supreme Court in May 2025.