Holding

A prosecutrix’s testimony is competent and need not be corroborated, but conviction under Section 376(2)(e) requires positive proof of the accused’s knowledge of pregnancy; lacking such proof, only Section 376(1) applies.

Summary

The appellant Om Prakash was convicted of raping a married woman (the prosecutrix) in the veranda of a Zila Parishad near a court, after having come to the premises to help her husband obtain bail. The victim’s testimony, corroborated by an eye‑witness (her brother‑in‑law) and medical examination, led the trial court to convict him under Section 376 IPC and, on the basis of a “full possibility” that he knew she was pregnant, under the enhanced provision Section 376(2)(e). The High Court affirmed the conviction. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that a prosecutrix is a competent witness whose evidence need not be corroborated by medical proof, but the conviction under Section 376(2)(e) was unsustainable because the prosecution failed to prove the accused’s knowledge of the victim’s pregnancy; only the basic rape provision applied, warranting a reduced sentence. The Court also reiterated that the victim’s name must not be disclosed in judgments under Section 228‑A IPC. The appeal was dismissed with a modification of the sentence.

Issues considered

The competency of the victim’s (prosecutrix’s) testimony and whether it requires corroboration, including medical evidence.
Whether the prosecution proved the accused’s knowledge of the victim’s pregnancy to sustain conviction under Section 376(2)(e) IPC.
Whether the victim’s identity should be disclosed in judicial opinions under Section 228‑A IPC.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 313
Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. 114, s. 118
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 228-A, s. 376, s. 376(2)(e)

Subjects

rapeprosecutrixevidencecorroborationSection 376(2)(e)knowledge of pregnancyvictim identitySection 228-Asexual assaultIndian Evidence Act

Judgment

A OM PRAKASH
v.
STATE OF U.P.

MAY 11, 2006

B [AR1JIT PASAYAT AND S.H. KAPADIA, JJ]

Penal Code, 1860-Section 37fr-Rape-Accused related lO parents of
victim -Rape in veranda of Zila Parishad near Court premises where
accused had come to help husband of victim, who had been arrested the
previous day, to obtain bail-Trial Court convicting accused--High Court
c affirming conviction and sentence on the ground that evidence of victim was
credible and cogent, and that by itself was sufficient to record conviction-
Correctness of--There was no apparent reason for a married woman to
falsely implicate accused after scatting her own prestige and honour--Victim
ofsexual assault is not treated as accomplice and as such, her evidence does
D not require corroboration from any other evidence including evidence of a
doctor.

Section 376(2)(e)--Rape of pregnant victim- Conviction for- Held-
Evidence must establish knowledge of accused that victim was pregnant~
Mere possibility of knowledge is not sufficient.
E
Section 228-A- --Printing or publishing name of rape victim in judicial
verdicts-Held-Keeping in view social object of preventing social
victimisation or ostracism ofvictim ofa sexual offence for which Section 228-
A has been enacted, it is appropriate that in judgments, be it of this Court,
F High Court or lower Court, the name of the victim should not be indicated

Husband of the vicitim-informant PW I had been arrested one day
prior to the occurrence. On the day of the occurrence, when the challan
was to be brought to the concerned Court, accused, who was related to
the parents of PW I, met them in the Court premises. PW-2, brother
G of husband of PW-1 was also there along with him and victim was talking
to him about bail of her husband. After sometime, accused sent PW-2 to
find out whether the challan had come or not. Then, in the afternoon,
accused overpowered the PW I and started raping her in the veranda
of Zila Parishad near the Court. When the PW I raised alarm, PW-2
H and another person came there, assaulted the accused who was raping
318
OMPRAKASHv. STATE 319

her, apprehended him and took him to the police station. On oral A
information given by PW 1 the case was registered. PW 1 and accused
were examined by doctors. After completion of investigation, charge
sheet was filed and case was committed to the Sessions Court. Charge
was framed against accused under Section 376 IPC.

In his statement under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code, B
1973 accused stated that he had come to help the victim's husband to be
released on bail and had taken some money for the purpose. When the
challan came a quarrel took place amongst the accused, PW-2 and father
of the victim on the question of refund of the money. They assaulted him
and he was implicated in the criminal case. C
Considering the evidence of victim PW-1, PW-2 and that of doctor
the Trial Court held that the accusations were established. Taking note
of the evidence of PW-3, it was held that accused must have known that
there is full possibility that victim is pregnant, and accordingly convicted
him under Section 376(2)(e). D
The High Court affirmed the conviction and sentence noting the
evidence of the victim was credible and cogent, and that by itself was
sufficient to record conviction. Hence the present appeal.

Appellant contended that (i) the prosecution version was clearly E
unbelievable as the accused who had gone to help the victim's husband
to be released on bail would commit rape on her, that too in broad day
light (ii) requirements of Section 376(2)(e) were not proved.

Dismissing the appeal, the Court
F
HELD : 1. The suggestion given on behalf of the defence that the
victim has falsely implicated the accused does not apeal to reasoning.
There was no apparent reason for a married woman to falsely implicate
the accused after scatting her own prestige and honour. (325-CJ

2.1. A prosecutrix of a sex-offence cannot be put on par with an G
accomplice. She is in fact a victim of the crime. The Evidence Act
nowhere says that her evidence cannot be accepted unless it is corroborated
in material particulars. She is undoubtedly a competent witness under
Section 118 and her evidence must receive the same weight as is attached
to an injured in cases of physical violence. The same degree of care and H
320 SUPREME CUURT REPORIS [2006] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A caution must attach in the ernluation of her evidence as in the case of
an injured complainant or witness and no more. What is necessary is that
the Court must be conscious of the fact that it is dealing with the evidence
of a person who is interested in the outcome of the charge levelled by her.
If the Court keeps this in mind and feels satisfied that it can act on the
evidence of the prosecutrix, there is no rule of law or practice incorporated
B in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 similar to illustration (b) to Section 114
which requires it to look for corroboration. If for some reason the Court
is hesitant to place implicit reliance on the testimony of the prosecutrix
it may look for evidence which may lend assurance to her testimony short
of corroboration required in the case of an accomplice. The nature of
C evidence required to lend assurance to the testimony of the prosecutrix
must necessarily depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. But
ifa prosecutrix is an adult and of full understanding the Court is entitled
to base a conviction on her evidence unless the same is infirm and not
trustworthy. If the totality of the circumstances appearing on the record
of the case discloses that the prosecutrix docs not have a strong motive
D to falsely involve the person charged, the Court should ordinarily have
no hesitation in accepting her evidence. [326-B-FI

2.2. Evidence of victim of sexual assault docs not require
corrnboration from the evidence of a doctor. In a given case even if the
doctor who examined the victim does not find si2n of rape, it is no ground
E
to disbelieve the sole testimony of the prosecutrix. [325-A-B[

State of Punjah ~. Gurmecr Singh. [ 1996[ 2 SCC 384 and \faharashtru
v. C'handraprakash Keii<1frlwnd Jai11. (1990[ I SCC 550, relied on.

F 3. S11b-section (2) of Section 376 makes some special case of rape
punishable with more stringent punishment. One of the categories which
attracts more stringent punishment is the rape on a woman who is
pregnant. In such cases where commission of rape is established for
operation of Section 376(2)(e) the prosecution has to further establish
that accused knew the victim to be pregnant. In the instant case there
G was no such evidence led. The Trial Court came to the conclusion that
there was "full possibility'' of the accused knowmg it. There is a gulf of
difference between possibility and certainty. While considering the case
covered by Section 376(2)(c) what is needed to be seen is whether evidence
establishes knowledge of the accused. Mere possibility of knowledge is
H not sufficient. When a case relah:s to one where because of the serious
OM PRAKASH v. STA TE 321
... nature of the offence, as statutorily prescribed, more stringent sentence A
is provided, it must be established and not a possibility is to be inferred.
The language of Section 376(2)(e) is clear. It requires prosecution to
establish that the accused knew her to be pregnant. This is clear from
the use of the expression "knowing her to be pregnant". This is conceptually
different that there is a possibility of his knowledge or that probably he
B
knew it. Positive evidence has to be adduced by the prosecution about
the knowledge. In the absence of any material brought on record to show
that the accused knew the victim to be pregnant Section 376(2)(e) IPC
cannot be pressed into service. To that extent the judgment of the Courts
below are unsustainable. However, minimum sentence prescribed under
Section 376(1) IPC is clearly applicable. [326-F-G, 327-G-H, 328-A-C) c
4. Name of the victim is not mentioned in the judgment. Section
228-A IPC makes disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences
punishable. Printing or publishing name of any matter which may make
known the identity of any person against whom an offence under Sections D
376, 376-A, 376-B, 376-C or 376-D is alleged or found to have been
committed can be punished. True it is, the restriction does not relate to
printing or publication of judgment by High Court or Supreme Court.
But keeping in view the social object of preventing social victimisation
or ostracism of the victim of a sexual offence for which Section 228-A
E
has been enacted, it would be appropriate that in the judgments, be it
of this Court, High Court or lower Court, the name of the victim should
not be indicated. She has been described in the judgment as 'victim'.
[322-C-E]

Karnataka v. Puttaraja, (2004] I SCC 475, relied on. F

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No. 629
of 2006.

From the Judgment and Order dated 4.3.2003 of the High Court of G
Judicature at Allahabad in Cr!. A. No. 700 of 1987.

M.P. Shorawala, Adv. for the Appellant.

R.K. Singh, Jatinder Kumar Bhatia, Advs. for the respondent.
H
""'
322 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A The Judgment of the Court was delivered by -
ARIJIT PASAYA T, J. : Leave granted.

Appellant calls in question legality of the judgment rendered by a
learned Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench upholding
B the appellant's conviction for offence punishable under Section 376(2)(e) of
the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short the '!PC') as recorded by learned VI
Additional Sessions Judge, Hardoi and the sentence of 10 years imprisonment
as awarded.

C We do not propose to mention name of the victim. Section 228-A !PC
makes disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences punishable.
Printing or publishing name of any matter which may make known the
identity of any person agamst whom an offence under Sections 376, 376-
A, 376-B, 376-C or 376-D is alleged or found to have been committed can
D be punished. True it is, the restriction does not relate to printing or
publication of judgment by High Court or Supreme Court. But keeping in
view the social object of preventing social victimisation or ostracism of the
victim of a sexual offence for which Section 228-A has been enacted. it
would be appropriate that in the judgments, be it of this Court, High Court
or lower C'ourt, the name of the victim should not be indicated, we have
E chosen to describe her as 'victim' in the judgment. The above position was
highlighted in State of Karnataka v. Puttaraja, [2004] I SCC 475.

Prosecution version as unfolded during trial is essentially as follows:

F One day prior to the occurrence i.e. 9 .3 .1985 the police of Sursa
arrested Ram Saran. husband of the informant (PW-I) and the challan was
brought to the concerned Coun on the day of the occurrence. Om Prakash
@ Chhotey (hereinafter referred to as the ·accused') who was related to the
parents of the informant, met then in the Court premises. Jaipal (PW-2)
brother of Ram Saran was also there along with the informant and she was
G talking to him about bail of her husband. After sometime, accused Om
Prakash sent PW-2 to find out whether the challan had come or not. Then
at about 3.00 p.m. accused overpowered the informant and he started raping
her in the veranda of Zila Parishad near the Court. When the informant raised
alarm, PW-2 and one Ram Lal came there and they assaulted Om Prakash
H who was raping her and they apprehended him and the accused was taken
OM PRAKASH v. STATE [PASA YAT, J.] 323

to the police station. The informant gave oral information and then Chik A
number 126 Exhibit A-I was recorded and the entry was made in the general
diary and the case was registered. Internal examination of the body of the
informant was done by Dr. Pumima Srivastava (PW-3) and the medical
report is Exhibit A-2 and the supplementary report is Exhibit A-3. The
medical examination of the accused was done by Dr. P.K. Gangwar (PW-
4) and the report is Exhibit A-4. The underwear of accused was seized in
B
the police station and the seizure memo is Exhibit A-6 and the petticoat of
the informant was seized and the seizure memo is Exhibit A-7. The charge
of investigation of the case was given to Shri Mahesh Lal Vadhuria (PW-
6), who prepared the site plan of the place of occurrence (Exhibit A-8). The
underwear of the accused and the petticoat of Ramwati were sent for C
chemical examination and the report is Exhibit A-21. After completion of
investigation, charge sheet was filed against the accused and cognizance of
the offence was taken and thereafter the case was committed to the Sessions
Court by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Hardoi.
D
Charge was framed against accused Om Prakash @ Chhotey under
Section 376 IPC. The accused did not admit the charge and demanded trial.

To substantiate its version, prosecution examined the victim (informant),
eye-witness Jaipal (PW-2), Dr. Smt. Pumima Srivastava (PW-3), Dr. P.K.
Gangwar (PW-4), Shri Uttam Kumar (PW-5), Shri Mahesh Lal Vadhuria E
(PW-6) and head constable Shri Jitendra Singh (PW-7).

The statement of accused Om Prakash was recorded under Section 313
of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (in short 'Cr.P.C.'). The accused
alleged that he was implicated due to the enmity. It was stated by him that F
he had come from the village along with the brother of the victim and other
persons for taking steps. He even made some attempts in the police station
in the night. He had taken some money for the purpose. When the challan
came, they got down at Bilgram Chungi and then a quarrel took place
amongst the accused, PW-2 and father of the victim on the question of refund
of the money. They assaulted him and he was implicated in the criminal G
case.

Considering the evidence more particularly that of the victim (PW-I)
and PW-2 the brother-in-law of the victim and the evidence of the doctor
PW-3, the Trial Court held that the accusations have been established. Taking H
324 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A note of the evidence of PW-3, it was held that accused must have known,
and that there is full possibility that victim is pregnant. Accordingly, hy
applying the provisions of Section 376(2)( e) accused was convicted and
sentenced to undergo RI for 10 years which is the minimum sentence
prescribed. The Trial Court held that there was no reason to n.:duce the
minimum prescribed sentence.
B
In appeal before the High Court it was submitted that the prosecution
version is incredible and the trial Court should not have convicted the
accused. The High Court by the impugned judgment affirmed the conviction
and sentence. It noted that the FlR was lodged immediately, without any
c delay. The evidence of the victim was credible and cogent. That itself was
sufficient to record conviction. In addition was the evidence of PW-2 an eye-
witness. It was, therefore, held that the prosecution has clearly established
that the offence was committed by the accused. With reference to the
background facts, it was noted that the accused was in a position to dominate
D will of the prosecutrix. Therefore, the conviction a~ recorded was maintained
and the appeal was dismissed.

In support of the appeal, learned counsel for the appellant submitted
that the prosecution version is clearly unbelievable. It is not believable that
tht: accused who had gont: to help the victim's husband tu be released on
E bail would commit rape on her, that too in broad day light. In any event.
it was submitted that the requirements of Section 376(2)(e) were not proved.

Per contra, learned counsel for the State submitted that prosecution
version has been clearly established by the cogent evidence not only by
F prosecution but also by PW-2 an eye-witness. It is to be noted that the
appellant was caught red-handed and was taken to police station where
immediately FIR was lodged.

So far as the applicability of Section 376(2)(e) is concerned, it is
G submitted that the doctor has clearly stated that the victim was six months
pregnant. and it could be known from the external appearance. The Trial
Court had rightly observed that the accused must have known the victim was
pregnant and there is full possibility in that regard. Though the High Court
has not dealt with this aspect, it has clearly noted that the accused was in
a position to dominate the will of the victim.
H
OM PRAKASH v. STATE [PASAYAT, J.] 325

..... It is settled law that the victim of sexual assault is not treated as
accompli~e and as such, her evidence does not require corroboration from
A

any other evidence including the evidence of a doctor. In a given case even
if the doctor who examined the victim does not find sign of rape, it is no
ground to disbelieve the sole testimony of the prosecutrix. In normal course
a victim of sexual assault does not like to disclose such offence even before
B
her family members much less before public or before the police. The Indian
women has tendency to conceal such offence because it involves her prestige
as well as prestige of her family. Only in few cases, the victim girl or the
family members has courage to go before the police station and lodge a case.
In the instant case the suggestion given on behalf of the defence that the
victim has falsely implicated the accused does not appeal to reasoning. There c
was no apparent reason for a married woman to falsely implicate the accused
after scatting her own prestige and honour.

Of late, crime against women in general and rape in particular is on
the increase. It is an irony that while we are celebrating women's rights in D
all spheres, we show little or no concern for her honour. It is a sad reflection
on the attitude of indifference of the society towards the violation of human
dignity of the victims of sex crimes. We must remember that a rapist not
only violates the victim's privacy and personal integrity, but inevitably
causes serious psychological as well as physical hann in the process. Rape E
is not merely a physical assault - it is often destructive of the whole
personality of the victim. A murderer destroys the physical body of his
victim, a rapist degrades the very soul of the helpless female. The Court,
therefore, shoulder a great responsibility while trying an accused on charges
of rape. They must deal with such cases with utmost sensitivity. The Courts
should examine the broader probabilities of a case and not get swayed by F
minor contradictions or insignificant discrepencies in the statement of the
prosecutrix, which are not of a fatal nature, to throw out an otherwise reliable
prosecution case. If evidence of the prosecutrix inspires confidence, it must
be relied upon without seeking corroboration of her statement in material
particulars. If for some reason the Court finds it difficult to place implicit G
reliance on her testimony, it may look for evidence which may lend
assurance to her testimony, short of corroboration required in the case of an
accomplice. The testimony of the prosecutrix must be appreciated in the
background of the entire case and the trial Court must be alive to its
responsibility and be sensitive while dealing with cases involving sexual H
326 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.
\

A molestations. This position was highlighted in State of Punjab v. Gurmeet
Singh, [1996] 2 sec 384.

A prosecutrix ofa sex-offence cannot be put on par with an accomplice.
She is in fact a victim of the crime. The Evidence Act nowhere says that
her evidence cannot be accepted unless it is corroborated in material
B particulars. She is undoubtedly a competent witness under Section 118 and
her evidence must receive the same weight as is attached to an injured in
cases of physical violence. The same degree of care and caution must attach
in the evaluation of her evidence as in the case of an injured complainant
or witness and no more. What is necessary is that the Court must be conscious
c of the fact that it is dealing with the evidence of a person who is interested
in the outcome of the charge levelled by her. If the Court keeps this in mind
and feels satisfied that it can act on the evidence of the prosecutrix. There
is no rule of law or practice incorporated in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872
(in short 'Evidence Act') similar to illustration (b) to Section 114 which
requires it to look for corroboration. If for some reason the Court is hesitant
D to place implicit reliance on the testimony of the prosecutrix it may look for
evidence which may lend assurance to her testimony short of corroboration
required in the case of an accomplice. The nature of evidence required to
lend assurance to the testimony of the prosecutrix must necessarily depend
on the facts and circumstances of each case. But if a prosecutrix is an adult
E and of full understanding the Court is entitled to base a conviction on her
evidence unless the same is own to be infirm and not trustworthy. If the
totality of the circumstances appearing on the record of the case discloses
that the prosecutrix does not have a strong motive to falsely involve the
person charged, the Court should ordinarily have no hesitation in accepting
her evidence. This position was highlighted in State of Maharashtra v.
F Chandraprakash Kewalchand Jain, (1990] I SCC 550.

Sub-section (2) of Section 376 makes some special case o( rape
punishable with more stringent punishment. Sub-section (2) Section 376
reads as follows:
G
"376(2) Whoever,-

(a) being a police officer commits rape -

(i) within !he limits of the police station to which he is
H appointed; or
OM PRAKASH v. STATE [PASAYAT, J.] 327

- (ii) in the premises of any station house whether or not
situated in the police station to which he is appointed; or

(iii) on a woman in his custody or in the custody of a police
A

officer subordinate to him; or

(b) being a public servant, takes advantage of his official B
position and commits rape on a woman in his custody as such
public servant or in the custody of a public servant subordinate
to him; or

(c) being on the management or on the staff of a jail, remand C
home or other place of custody established by or under any
law for the time being in force or of a woman's or children's
institution takes advantage of his official position and commits
rape on any inmate of such jail, remand home, place or
institution; or
D
(d) being on the management or on the staff of a hospital,
takes advantage of his official position and commits rape on
a woman in that hospital; or

(e) commits rape on a woman knowing her to be pregnant; or E
(f) commits rape on a woman when she is under twelve years
of age; or

(g) commits gang rape,
F
shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term
which shall not be less than ten years but which may be for
life and shall also be liable to fine."

One of the categories which attracts more stringent punishment is the G
rape on a woman who is pregnant. In such cases where commission of rape
is established for operation of Section 376(2)(e) the prosecution has to
further establish that accused knew the victim to be pregnant. In the instant
· case there was no such evidence led. The Trial Court came to the conclusion
that there was "full possibility" of the accused knowing it. There is a gulf
H
328 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A of difference between possibility and certainty. While considering the case
covered by Section 376(2)(e) what is needed to be seen is whether evidence
establishes knowledge of the accused. Mere possibility of knowledge is not
sufficient. When a case relates to one where because of the serious nature
of the offence, as statutorily prescribed, more stringent sentence is provided,
it must be established and not a possibility is to be inferred. The language
B of Section 376(2)(e) is clear. It requires prosecution to establish that the
accused knew her to be pregnant. This is clear from the use of the expression
"knowing her to be pregnant". This is conceptually different that there is
a possibility of his knowledge or that probably he knew it. Positive evidence
has to be adduced by the prosecution about the knowledge. In the absence
C of any material brought on record to show that the accused knew the victim
to be pregnant Section 376(2)(e) !PC cannot be pressed into service. To that
extent the judgment of the Courts below are unsustainable. However,
minimum sentence prescribed under Section 376(1) !PC is clearly applicable.

D With the modification of sentence by reduction from I 0 years to 7
years, the appeal is dismissed.

V.S. Appeal dismissed.