Upper extremity of medical age estimation exceeding eighteen years entitles accused to benefit of doubt regarding minority.

The prosecution arose from a written application by the informant (PW-3) alleging that the appellant committed rape on her daughter (PW-4) under the pretext of marriage, resulting in pregnancy

A medical examination conducted on 27.09.2018 determined the victim was 30 weeks pregnant

The Trial Court convicted the appellant under Section 4 of the POCSO Act and Section 376(2)(i) of the IPC, sentencing him to twenty years of rigorous imprisonment

The appellant challenged the conviction, contending that the victim’s age was not proved according to statutory requirements and that Section 376(2)(i) IPC had been omitted by Act 22 of 2018

The Court primarily applied Section 2(d) of the POCSO Act, which defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age

It utilized Section 94 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, to evaluate age determination evidence, noting that unexhibited school certificates lack evidentiary value

The Court further relied on the "plus/minus two years" rule for radiological age estimation as established in Rajak Mohammad v. State of H.P. (2018) and Court on its own Motion v. NCT of Delhi (2024)

For the IPC charge, the Court applied Section 376(2)(i) as it existed prior to its omission on 21.04.2018, based on the date of the offence

The Court found that the Trial Court erroneously relied on a school transfer certificate that was neither exhibited nor proved by a competent witness

Examining the medical evidence, the Medical Board estimated the victim’s age between 16 and 18 years

Applying the judicial "plus/minus two years" rule, the Court observed the upper extremity of the age could be 19 years, thereby creating reasonable doubt as to whether the victim was a "child" under POCSO

Regarding the IPC, the Court rejected the appellant's argument on the omission of Section 376(2)(i), noting that the 30-week pregnancy period indicated the offence occurred prior to the April 2018 amendment

The Court deemed the victim a "sterling witness" whose testimony, corroborated by a DNA report confirming the appellant as the biological father, sufficiently proved the charge of rape

However, it upheld the conviction under Section 376(2)(i) of the IPC

The sentence was modified from twenty years to twelve years of rigorous imprisonment, with a fine of Rs. 25,000

The Court also directed the District Legal Services Authority, Sheohar, to ensure payment of compensation to the victim within three months