#sentencing guidelines

Karnataka High Court upheld conviction under POCSO Act, ruling that a school certificate is valid proof of age, rendering consent irrelevant. The court also modified the life sentence to 10 years with ₹25,000 compensation, emphasizing strict liability for child sexual abuse offenses regardless of victim's apparent maturity.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court upheld conviction under Section 138 NI Act but reduced the sentence to time served and adjusted compensation to Rs. 4,32,000 after the petitioner paid the full cheque amount plus interest. The ruling clarifies that post-conviction payment can mitigate sentencing, offering relief to accused who settle liabilities even after legal proceedings conclude.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court reduced a conviction under Section 61(1)(a) to six months’ imprisonment, holding that extreme delay in trial-over 17 years-combined with the convict’s status as a daily wage earner supporting three dependents, renders the statutory maximum sentence disproportionate. This ruling establishes that personal hardship and systemic delay can override deterrence in petty excise offenses, setting a new benchmark for sentencing proportionality in state liquor cases.