SUM ANT KUMAR SEN Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS Criminal Revision is directed against the order dated 4.8.2001 passed by the 1 st Assistant Sessions Judge, Dumka in Sessions Case No. 312 of 2000 whereby and whereunder the petition filed on behalf of the petitioner for his discharge under Section 227 Code of Criminal Procedure was rejected and the petitioner was called upon to stand charged for the alleged offence under Sections 493/376 of the Indian Penal Code.

(2.) THE prosecution story in short was that the prosecutrix Tutul Kumari, aged about 15 years presented a written report before the Officer -in -Charge of Ramgarh within the District of Dumka stating that her father was a hawker who used to visit weekly. The petitioner was having a grocery shop opposite her house where the prosecutrix used to visit the shop for purchasing grocery items. On the previous month of "Baishak" in the year 2000 it was the day of full moon she visited his shop to which the petitioner proposed to marry her. Two days thereafter, the petitioner came to her home and finding her alone there he took her to the back side of her house and forcibly committed rape. She alleged that when she opposed his act, he then promised to marry her and relying upon his such assurance she consented and established physical relation at several occasions. She further alleged that whenever she asked him for marriage, the petitioner tried to subterfuge the issue. However, on account of prolonged sex with the petitioner she conceived and then she apprised the matter to her father on 28.7.2000 to which a "Panchayati" was held in the village but the petitioner refused to marry her and only then she presented her written report before the Police Station. A case was instituted vide Ramgarh P.S. Case No. 69 of 2000 against the petitioner for the alleged offence under Sections 493/376 of the Indian Penal Code and after investigation final report was submitted for the alleged offence. The prosecutrix was examined by the Medical Board on 4.8.2000 duly constituted by the Superintendent, Sadar Hospital, Dumka wherein her uterus was found foetus of 20/22 weeks. On radiological examination her age was deter mined between 17 -18 years and she was found bearing pregnancy of 5 to 5% months.

(3.) ADVANCING his argument the learned Sr. Counsel Mr. Rajiv Sharma further submitted that though the petitioner had disclosed her age to be 15 years but her age was determined between 17 -18 years, therefore, the prosecution cannot take the benefit of age of the girl under Section 375 (sixthly) Indian Penal Code wherein it was explained that a man is said to commit rape, who, except in the case hereinafter excepted, has sexual intercourse with a woman under circumstances with or without her consent when she is under 16 years of age. At best, the learned Counsel added there could be an offence in the facts and circumstances of criminal breach of trust, for the argument sake but in no case the offence under Sections 493/376 I.P.C. is attracted against the petitioner and therefore, the order impugned may be modified/rejected by passing an appropriate order.