भारत के सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने POCSO Act की धारा 6 और IPC की धारा 363 के तहत दोषसिद्ध एक व्यक्ति को बरी कर दिया।
The Supreme Court of India acquitted a man convicted under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and Section 363 of the IPC, ruling that statutory presumptions of guilt are not absolute.
Case Overview: Deepak (in JC) v. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi)
Date of Judgment: September 17, 2026
Bench: Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria
Previous Rulings: Set aside the conviction and sentence upheld by the Delhi High Court (originating from a 2015 South Delhi case).
Key Legal Rulings
Presumption Not Absolute: Sections 29 and 30 of the POCSO Act (reverse burden of proof) do not relieve the prosecution of its primary duty to establish foundational facts beyond a reasonable doubt.
Scrutiny of Evidence: Courts must independently examine the evidence and cannot mechanically rely on statutory presumptions when the prosecution's story suffers from material contradictions or lack of corroboration.
Rebuttal of Guilt: Once an accused exposes significant inconsistencies, the statutory presumption of guilt loses its legal effectiveness.
Aspect
Details
Acts Involved
POCSO Act (Section 6) & IPC (Section 363)
Trial Sentence
10 years rigorous imprisonment (POCSO) + 1 year (Section 363)
Outcome
Conviction set aside; appellant acquitted
कानूनी जागरूकता के लिए
भारत के सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने POCSO Act की धारा 6 और IPC की धारा 363 के तहत दोषसिद्ध एक व्यक्ति को बरी कर दिया। न्यायालय ने स्पष्ट किया कि POCSO Act की धारा 29 और 30 में दी गई कानूनी धारणा (Statutory Presumption) अपने आप में दोषसिद्धि का आधार नहीं बन सकती।
मामले का नाम
Deepak (in JC) v. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi)
निर्णय की तारीख: 17 सितंबर 2026
पीठ: न्यायमूर्ति प्रशांत कुमार मिश्रा एवं न्यायमूर्ति एन.वी. अंजारिया
मामले की पृष्ठभूमि: यह मामला वर्ष 2015 के दक्षिण दिल्ली के एक मामले से संबंधित था। ट्रायल कोर्ट की दोषसिद्धि और उसके बाद दिल्ली हाई कोर्ट द्वारा बरकरार रखी गई सजा को सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने निरस्त कर दिया।
सुप्रीम कोर्ट की प्रमुख कानूनी बातें
1. धारा 29 और 30 की धारणा पूर्ण नहीं है
POCSO Act की धारा 29 और 30 के तहत अभियुक्त के विरुद्ध कानूनी धारणा लागू होने के बावजूद, अभियोजन पक्ष को पहले अपराध के आवश्यक मूलभूत तथ्यों (Foundational Facts) को विश्वसनीय साक्ष्य से स्थापित करना होता है।
2. केवल Presumption के आधार पर दोषसिद्धि नहीं
अदालत अभियोजन के साक्ष्य की स्वतंत्र रूप से जांच करेगी। यदि अभियोजन की कहानी में महत्वपूर्ण विरोधाभास, असंगतियां या पर्याप्त corroboration का अभाव हो, तो केवल statutory presumption के आधार पर दोषसिद्धि नहीं की जा सकती।
3. अभियुक्त को प्रभावी बचाव का अधिकार
यदि बचाव पक्ष अभियोजन के महत्वपूर्ण साक्ष्यों में गंभीर विरोधाभास या कमियां सामने लाता है, तो अदालत को उन कमियों का स्वतंत्र रूप से मूल्यांकन करना होगा।
मामले का सार
पहलू
विवरण
लागू कानून
POCSO Act धारा 6 एवं IPC धारा 363
ट्रायल कोर्ट की सजा
POCSO के तहत 10 वर्ष का कठोर कारावास + IPC धारा 363 के तहत 1 वर्ष
बाद की स्थिति
दिल्ली हाई कोर्ट ने दोषसिद्धि/सजा को बरकरार रखा था
सुप्रीम कोर्ट का निर्णय
दोषसिद्धि और सजा निरस्त
अंतिम परिणाम
अपीलकर्ता बरी
सबसे महत्वपूर्ण Legal Awareness Point
“POCSO में Presumption है, लेकिन Presumption का मतलब Automatic Conviction नहीं है।”
अदालत को पहले यह देखना होता है कि अभियोजन ने अपने मामले के मूलभूत तथ्यों को विश्वसनीय और कानूनी रूप से स्वीकार्य साक्ष्य से स्थापित किया है या नहीं।
यह सामग्री केवल कानूनी जागरूकता एवं शैक्षणिक उद्देश्य के लिए है। किसी विशेष मामले में तथ्य, साक्ष्य और लागू कानून के आधार पर स्वतंत्र कानूनी सलाह आवश्यक है।
DR. ANTHONY RAJU
ADVOCATE, SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL LAW PRACTITIONER | POCSO EXPERT | LEGAL SCHOLAR | AUTHOR | PUBLIC SPEAKER | VISITING LEGAL FACULTY | HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE
Dr. Anthony Raju represents a distinctive blend of courtroom advocacy, criminal-law scholarship, legal education, authorship and human-rights advocacy.
As an Advocate of the Supreme Court of India, he is associated with complex and sensitive criminal litigation, particularly matters involving POCSO, sexual offences, serious crimes, personal liberty, constitutional safeguards and human rights.
His professional engagement extends across POCSO cases, rape and sexual-offence matters, bail and anticipatory bail, criminal appeals, suspension of sentence, dowry death and 498A matters, murder and other serious criminal cases, CBI, ED, NIA and PMLA matters, FIR quashing, criminal writs, constitutional remedies, jail reforms and prisoners' rights.
THE CRIMINAL LAW APPROACH
Serious criminal litigation demands far more than an argument in court.
It demands the ability to examine every component of the prosecution case.
FACTS
What is alleged, what is established and what remains to be proved.
EVIDENCE
Oral, documentary, medical, forensic, electronic and scientific evidence must be examined with precision.
WITNESSES
Credibility, consistency, reliability, contradictions, omissions and material improvements require careful scrutiny.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
A carefully structured cross-examination can test the credibility of witnesses, expose inconsistencies and place material facts before the Court.
MEDICAL AND FORENSIC EVIDENCE
Medical records, DNA evidence, FSL reports and other scientific evidence may become critical components of a serious criminal trial.
INVESTIGATION
The legality, fairness, completeness and reliability of the investigation require close examination.
PROCEDURE
Every relevant statutory and constitutional safeguard must be carefully considered.
LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE
Facts and evidence must ultimately be tested against statutory provisions, constitutional principles and binding judicial precedents.
COURTROOM STRATEGY
FACTS + EVIDENCE + WITNESSES + CROSS-EXAMINATION + PROCEDURE + LAW + JURISPRUDENCE
This integrated approach forms the foundation of serious criminal litigation.
AUTHOR AND LEGAL SCHOLAR
Dr. Anthony Raju has authored numerous articles, books and legal writings on important dimensions of criminal justice and jurisprudence, including criminal jurisprudence, jail and prison reforms, the realities faced by undertrial prisoners, prisoners' rights, human rights and criminal justice administration.
His writings reflect an engagement with criminal law not merely as a profession, but as a field of jurisprudence, constitutional responsibility and social justice.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SPEAKER
Dr. Anthony Raju has been recognised on national and international platforms for his contribution as a public speaker and legal voice on criminal law, criminal justice, human rights, prison reforms, constitutional safeguards and contemporary legal issues.
VISITING LEGAL FACULTY
As Visiting Legal Faculty, he brings practical courtroom experience and legal scholarship into the classroom, engaging with law students, young advocates and legal professionals on criminal law, evidence, advocacy, jurisprudence and justice administration.
A CAREER BEYOND THE COURTROOM
COURTROOM ADVOCACY
CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE
LEGAL WRITING
AUTHORSHIP
LEGAL EDUCATION
PUBLIC SPEAKING
PRISON REFORMS
HUMAN RIGHTS
CONSTITUTIONAL ADVOCACY
Dr. Anthony Raju's professional journey reflects one continuing commitment:
TO UNDERSTAND THE LAW DEEPLY.
TO EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE FEARLESSLY.
TO QUESTION WHAT MUST BE QUESTIONED.
TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION.
AND TO ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE WITH KNOWLEDGE, PREPARATION AND CONVICTION.
DR. ANTHONY RAJU
ADVOCATE, SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL LAW | POCSO | BAIL | APPEALS | CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE | PRISON REFORMS | HUMAN RIGHTS | CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDIES
WhatsApp and Legal Helpline: +91 8588872001
Email: office@humanrightscouncil.in
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
This profile is intended for professional and legal-awareness purposes. No particular case outcome is guaranteed. Every matter depends upon its facts, evidence, applicable law, judicial precedents and determination by the competent Court.
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Dr. Anthony Raju | Advocate, Supreme Court of India | Criminal Law Practitioner | POCSO Expert | Author | Legal Scholar | Public Speaker | Visiting Legal Faculty
Complied by
Dr June Ann
Research Scholar
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