Supreme Court Quashes Rape Conviction, Allows Couple to Reunite After Marriage
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In a rare and heartwarming decision, the Supreme Court has quashed the conviction of a man accused of rape, citing a consensual relationship that was mistakenly given a criminal color. The court noted that the complainant and the accused had married each other in July and were living together. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma delivered the verdict on December 5, stating that they had a 'sixth sense' that the couple could be reunited if they decided to marry. The court had interacted with the couple and their parents, who were happy with the development. The case dates back to 2015 when the accused met the woman on a social media platform and they developed a consensual physical relationship. However, the woman filed a criminal complaint in 2021 after the accused allegedly delayed their marriage plans, causing her insecurity. The trial court had convicted the man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a ₹55,000 fine. However, the Supreme Court, invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, quashed the FIR and the trial court's judgment, rendering the appeal pending in the high court infructuous. The court also directed the Chief Medical Officer of Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, to revoke the order of suspension and pay the arrears of salary to the accused, who had been suspended from his service due to the conviction. This decision is a testament to the court's efforts to resolve disputes through reconciliation and its commitment to doing complete justice in matters where parties can be brought together.
