Kerala Madrassa Teacher Sentenced to 40 Years in Jail for Sexual Assault of Minor Student

In a significant judgment, the Fast Track Special Court for POCSO cases in Manjeri sentenced a 27-year-old madrassa teacher, Ali, to 40 years of rigorous imprisonment for the aggravated sexual assault and rape of an 11-year-old student.

Special Judge Ashraf A.M. convicted the man under stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court found him guilty of offences including aggravated penetrative sexual assault and sexual harassment.

The incident occurred on April 21, 2022, during Ramadan at Irshadul Muslimin Madrassa in Malappuram. The man lured the minor girl under the guise of teaching Quran classes, subjected her to severe sexual assault, and threatened her to silence.

Ali had called the victim minor girl near him and directed her to recite Quran. Then the accused drew a picture of a doll on a piece of paper and pointed the private area of the doll, asked the victim girl “what is this?” Thereafter he stated that he would show it to her, got up from the chair, removed his cloth and showed his penis to the child with sexual intent.

Court noted that the minor victim was studying at 4th standard in madrassa during the month of Ramadan, wherein, Ali committed rape on her by penetrating his penis into the mouth and the vagina of the victim from the bath room of Irshadul Muslimin Secondary Madrassa at Achanambalam. “It is also proved that on the same transaction, he showed his penis and also exhibited a photograph of man’s penis to the victim. The accused is a religious teacher who should have a role model to the society. But he committed rape on a minor girl under the age of 12 years at the bath room of the above said Madrassa. The hallmark of relationship between student and teacher is world wide known and it is beyond expectation of any student that rape in this sweet relation finds any place. If the protector himself becomes violator, the degree of vulnerability becomes more greater and, according to this court, leniency in passing the sentence finds no place in such a case. Looking to the act of the accused and since in order to gratify his lust and lascivious activity, he committed rape over the victim who was the student of the accused, the view of this court is that accused deserves maximum punishment. The crime in which woman are victims need to be severely dealt with and in extreme cases such as the case on hand where the accused has thought it fit to deflower his relative to gratify his lust, then only a deterrent sentence can meet the ends of justice,” the Judge noted

Medical evidence corroborated the victim’s testimony, demonstrating clear signs of sexual abuse. The court emphasized the grave breach of trust by the accused, stating such acts by individuals in positions of trust and authority deserved no leniency.

The convict has received concurrent sentences: 40 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹2 lakh each under Sections 5(m) and 5(f) of the POCSO Act; 3 years imprisonment and ₹25,000 fine each under Sections 11(i) and 11(iii). The court also ordered the fine to be paid to the victim as compensation, recommending further compensation from the District Legal Services Authority.