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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court has recently upheld the conviction of a primary school teacher who was convicted for sexually assaulting three students.

A single judge bench of Justice Kishor C Sant was hearing an appeal against the order of the Ratnagiri Sessions Court, which convicted the man under the POCSO Act.

The prosecution had alleged that the primary school teacher made the three girls lay down on a table and touched their chest and vagina.

The FIR was registered on 24 November 2021, after which the chargesheet was filed and the trial was conducted, leading to the man's conviction.

The counsel appearing for the appellant contended that there was a delay of 15 days in filing the FIR.

He added that the mother of one victim was President of the School Management Committee, yet she did not file the complaint immediately. He also argued that the witnesses were tutored.

The counsel appearing for one of the victims argued that there was sufficient evidence which was consistent and corroborative.

The Additional Public Prosecutor also opposed the appeal and submitted that the delay was rightly explained and there was no question of witnesses being tutored.

The bench agreed with the contentions of the Additional Public Prosecutor and the victims and said that no interference was required with the trial court's order.

"..this Court finds that no case is made out pointing out perversity in the judgment of the Trial Court. The Trial Court had rightly appreciated the evidence and rightly recorded the conviction. No interference is called for," the court said.