#Medical Evidence in Rape Cases

Bombay High Court rules that a minor victim's testimony under the POCSO Act and Section 376-AB IPC is sufficient to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt when consistent with medical evidence and prompt complaint, even without additional corroboration. The judgment reinforces the reliability of child witnesses in sexual assault cases, impacting trial standards for similar offenses.

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.

Sikkim High Court rules that the testimony of a differently abled victim, even if unable to identify the aggressor, is sufficient for conviction under Section 376(2)(l) IPC when supported by medical and forensic evidence. The judgment underscores that inconsistencies or silences in testimony cannot suppress truth in cases involving disabled witnesses, reinforcing disability rights in criminal proceedings.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court affirmed that in POCSO cases, the credible testimony of a child victim, even without medical corroboration or immediate FIR filing, is sufficient to sustain a conviction. This reinforces the legal principle that children’s testimonies must be evaluated on their intrinsic reliability, not subjected to adult-centric evidentiary standards, significantly easing prosecution burdens in sexual abuse cases involving minors.