Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, February 16
For the first time in the history of criminal justice system in Bihar, a 31-year-old principal of a private school has been awarded capital punishment and his colleague, a school teacher life imprisonment on charges of raping an 11-year-old student in the school.
Pronouncing the judgement in the case registered in 2018 under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO) at Phulwarisharif police station at the outskirts of Patna, additional district and sessions judge VI and designated judge for trial of offences under POCSO Awadhesh Kumar said, “The court is unable to impose the sentence less than capital punishment.”
Judge rejected the argument of the defence that since this was the first crime of the accused, harsh punishment should not be given. Court said since the teacher was also involved in the crime and “his act was in common intention of rape, he also deserved life sentence”, Judge said in his 11 pages judgment.
The Court on Monday directed the district magistrate of Patna and State Legal services Authority that compensation of Rs 15 lakh should be paid to the victim by the state government and Rs one lakh by the prime accused.
The 11-year-old-girl was a student of class V when crime was committed. She was called for private coaching by the principal of New Central Public School. Her parents learnt about the rape when the girl development some health issues. On the statement of the girl, FIR was registered with Phulwarisharif police station on September 22, 2018.
The principal, according to the parents, started harassing the family and attempted to force them to withdraw complaints in which allegations were made that the girl was raped six times in two months. With the help of DNA samples of the principal and the victim girl, the involvement of the young principal in the heinous crime could be established.
