A Delhi court has said the testimony of a rape victim is "sufficient" enough to convict the accused and asking her to corroborate her version by producing more witnesses will be insulting.
"The statement of the prosecutrix alone is sufficient and needs no corroboration. The conviction can be founded alone unless there are compelling reasons.
"In my opinion, it would be adding insult to tell a female that her story of woes would not be believed unless it is corroborated in material particulars in the case," district and sessions judge PS Teji, quoting various judgements of the Supreme Court, said.
The court's observation came while awarding rigorous life imprisonment to convict Raju, a resident of east Delhi for raping his five-year-old neighbour.
It trashed the plea of convict that he was implicated by the girl and her family members as no independent witness was examined against him by the prosecution.
"In the traditional non-permissive bounds of India, no girl or woman would falsely implicate somebody for ravishing her chastity by sacrificing and jeopardising her future prospects," it said, lending credence to testimonies of the victim and her parents.
It also imposed a fine of Rs10,000 on convict, who raped the minor on the night of May 31, 2006 after taking her to a secluded place.
The court said, "The evidence of a victim of sexual assault stands almost on par with the evidence of an injured witness and to an extent, is even more reliable."
The girls in such cases are not an accomplice to the crime, but is a victim of another person's lust, it said.
"Rape is a heinous crime. It does not appeal to mind that a respectable person of society with a view to take revenge from anyone would involve and ruin the life of his own daughter," it said.
