The Karnataka High Court stayed criminal proceedings against a Coorg homestay owner accused after an employee allegedly raped a 33-year-old American tourist. The Court questioned charges under the repealed Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while allowing proceedings against the principal accused to continue.
The Chhattisgarh High Court permitted a 14-year-old rape survivor to terminate her pregnancy beyond 28 weeks, holding that forcing her to continue an unwanted pregnancy would violate her dignity, bodily autonomy, privacy and reproductive rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court sought Rajasthan government’s response on Asaram’s plea challenging the High Court order upholding his conviction and life sentence in a 2013 minor rape case. The Bench issued notice and said bail would be considered only after hearing the State’s response.
The Chhattisgarh High Court held that a long-term live-in relationship between consenting adults creates a presumption of consensual physical relations. The Court ruled that a later refusal to marry cannot automatically amount to rape and dismissed an appeal challenging the accused’s acquittal.
The Jharkhand High Court ruled that a consensual relationship between two adults cannot automatically become a rape case due to delayed marriage. The Court acquitted Aalim Ansari, setting aside his conviction and seven-year sentence under Section 376 IPC.
The Allahabad High Court expressed concern over bail being granted in rape and murder cases due to shortcomings in Uttar Pradesh’s forensic infrastructure, urging the State to modernize FSL facilities with advanced equipment and adequate staff. The Court directed that its order be placed before Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The Karnataka High Court, while hearing a rape accused’s bail plea, expressed concern over rising serious crimes and diminishing fear of legal consequences. Justice R Nataraj stressed the need for stronger enforcement of criminal laws, observing that deterrence within the justice system appears to be weakening.
The Rajasthan High Court upheld Asaram Bapu’s life sentence for raping a minor, rejecting his appeal while affirming the trial court’s 2018 judgment. It granted relief by dropping gangrape charges but still ordered him to surrender despite medical bail.
The Supreme Court upheld anticipatory bail granted to MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in a rape case but removed adverse remarks made by the Kerala High Court against the survivor. The Court said such observations were unnecessary and ordered them to be expunged.
Today, On 23rd March, The Supreme Court of India issued notices to the Haryana government and its DGP on a plea seeking a CBI or SIT probe into a Gurugram minor’s rape, calling police conduct “shocking” and questioning their basic legal understanding.
