“Beta, This Court Heard You”: Delhi HC Reproduces Trial Judge’s Letter To POCSO Survivor, Rejects Convict’s Sentence Suspension Plea

“Beta, this court heard you. When you said ‘Jab tak uncle buddhe na ho jaaye, tab tak unhe jail mein hi rakha jaaye’, this court listened. And this court has answered your plea". The Delhi High Court reproduced these words from a post-script written by the trial judge to a seven-year-old POCSO survivor while considering the convict’s appeal against his conviction and life sentence.

The high court, which rejected the accused's plea for suspension of sentence, took note of the message written by Additional Sessions Judge Rajani Ranga and directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to have it printed and handed over to the child or her family along with the compensation awarded in the case.

The bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Dinesh Bhatt was hearing an appeal filed by Sumit Shakya against his conviction for aggravated penetrative sexual assault of a child below 12 years of age. The trial court had sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for life, meaning imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life.

While the high court admitted the appeal, it declined to suspend his sentence at this stage, saying it was not inclined to do so considering the evidence, including forensic evidence.

The incident took place on July 23, 2023, when the survivor was seven years old. She is now 10.

The high court specifically recorded the trial judge’s message as part of its order and described it as a message of encouragement for the survivor.

Trial judge Rajani Ranga, Additional Sessions Judge-01 (POCSO), North-West, Rohini District, addressing the child directly, wrote that the man she called “uncle” would “never walk free again”.

“He will grow old in that cage. He will die in that cage. He will never be able to hurt you, or your little sister, or any other child, ever again,” the judge wrote.

The judge also referred to the child’s testimony and courage in coming to court.

“You came to court, you pointed at the man who hurt you, and you told the truth,” the judge wrote. “The man you called ‘uncle’ did a very bad thing to you. But you did not stay quiet".

The message ended with the judge asking the child to move forward with her life: “Now, beta, live your life. Go to school. Make friends. Laugh. Play. Dream". The judge added that the court would always remember her courage.

The trial court had convicted Shakya under Section 6 read with Section 5(l) and (m) of the POCSO Act for aggravated penetrative sexual assault, besides convicting him for criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the IPC. The sentences were directed to run concurrently.

It had also awarded Rs 10.5 lakh compensation to the child under Section 33(8) of the POCSO Act, taking into account the nature of the crime, the depth of her suffering and its lifelong impact.

The high court directed the Secretary of the DLSA, North-West Delhi, to print the trial judge’s message and hand it over to the survivor or her family along with the compensation within two weeks. It also sought a status report from the DLSA regarding the compensation.

The high court has listed the matter next on November 4, 2026, for consideration of the status report by the DLSA. The high court will hear arguments on the bail and sentence suspension on January 20, 2027.

Case title: Sumit Shakya v. State of NCT of Delhi & Anr.

Order date: September 22, 2026

Bench: Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Dinesh Bhatt