Rape, A Crime Against Body Of A Woman, Which Is Her Own Temple: MP High Court
Delivering the verdict in the case, the single bench of Justice Milind Ramesh Phadke observed that the offence of rape strikes at the bodily integrity and dignity of a woman and has far-reaching societal implications.
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh high court has dismissed a plea seeking to quash the FIR against the rape accused on the ground of settlement reached between him and the survivor, observing that “These (rapes) are crimes against the body of a woman which is her own temple”.
Delivering the verdict in the case, the single bench of Justice Milind Ramesh Phadke observed that the offence of rape strikes at the bodily integrity and dignity of a woman and has far-reaching societal implications.
A woman’s honour is sacrosanct, the court said.
“These (rapes) are crimes against the body of a woman which is her own temple. These are offences which suffocate the breath of life and sully the reputation”, the bench noted.
The court further observed that “When a human frame is defiled, the ‘purest treasure’ is lost. The dignity of a woman is a part of her non-perishable and immortal self and no one should ever think of painting it in clay”.
The court noted that reputation is the richest jewel one can conceive in life.
As per the case diary, an FIR was registered in Dabra police station in Gwalior district in 2021 by a minor girl alleging that the accused had raped her.
Subsequently, a case was registered against the accused under Section 376 (rape) and Section 450 (house-trespass) of Indian Penal Code (IPCV), read with provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The accused later moved the Madhya Pradesh high court seeking to quash the FIR against him on the ground that he has reached an amicable compromise with the survivor.
Dismissing the plea of the accused, the court said that the offence of rape falls under ‘serious and heinous’ category and such a crime is treated as crime against society and not against individuals alone.
In such offences, compromise or settlement cannot be allowed since it would be against the honour of a woman which matters the most, the court said.
The accused in such crimes are subjected to due process of law, the court held.