#child witness testimony

The Allahabad High Court ruled that a child witness's credible and consistent testimony can independently sustain a conviction under Section 376 IPC, even without corroborative evidence. The judgment also clarifies that delayed FIR filing in sexual offenses is not fatal if reasonably explained, reinforcing victim-centric evidentiary standards in rape trials.

The Supreme Court reaffirmed that a child victim's credible testimony alone can sustain a conviction under Section 376 IPC, even without conclusive medical evidence. The ruling underscores the primacy of victim testimony in sexual assault cases, particularly involving minors, and limits the role of medical evidence to corroborative status.