In a crucial ruling, a local court has sentenced a 59-year-old man to five years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl in 2019. The sentence, handed down by Additional Sessions Judge Susheel Bala Dagar, underscores the serious repercussions of crimes against children and the judicial commitment to safeguarding the vulnerable in society.
The verdict came after the court found the accused guilty of sexually harassing and assaulting his young neighbor when he discovered her alone at home. The conviction includes five years under Section 354 A (sexual harassment) and Section 354 (assault or criminal force against a woman to outrage her modesty), along with one year for house trespassing and six months for wrongful confinement, all to be served concurrently.
During the sentencing, Additional Public Prosecutor Yogita Kaushik argued that the convict deserved no leniency for his “abominable and reprehensible act.” Emphasizing the protective duty society holds towards its youngest members, Judge Dagar noted, “It is the responsibility of society as a whole to protect its children from physiological and psychological exploitation.”
The court’s 10-page verdict also highlighted the broader implications of such crimes, stating, “The aspiration of the future of India lies in the children but it is a matter of great misfortune that children, including minor girls and boys, are in an extremely vulnerable position.” The judge added that sexual exploitation of children by individuals like the convict constitutes a “crime against humanity and society.”
The judgment also referenced insights from psychologist Renee Fredrickson, who has studied the long-term impacts of child sexual abuse. According to Fredrickson, “During sexual abuse, children incorporate the rage, pain, shame, and sense of perversion projected by the perpetrator, leading to deep trauma.”
