Man sentenced to life for raping minor girl in J&K’s Anantnag

October 24, 2025

Srinagar: The principal district and sessions judge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday sentenced a man to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of raping his minor daughter.

In his judgment, the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Anantnag (also the special judge under the POCSO Act), sentenced the man to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life after convicting him for raping his minor daughter.

FIR number 03/2022 was registered against the accused at the Women’s Police Station, Anantnag, under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act.

The court emphasised that the sentence should serve as a strong deterrent against crimes targeting minors. “The accused shall undergo imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life,” the court observed, underscoring the need to uphold the dignity and rights of victims, particularly children who suffer abuse within the safety of their homes.

Compensation and Judicial Observations

In addition to the life sentence, the court also awarded a compensation of over ₹10 lakh to the victim under the Victim Compensation Scheme, directing the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Anantnag, to ensure prompt disbursement of the amount.

The prosecution was effectively conducted by Public Prosecutor Abdul Rasheed Mir before the court of Principal District and Sessions Judge Anantnag, Tahir Khurshid Raina. The judgment has been widely hailed as a firm judicial response to crimes of sexual violence, reaffirming the court’s commitment to justice and protection of minors.

Background on POCSO Act

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was enacted in 2012 to strengthen legal measures for the protection of children from sexual assault, harassment, and exploitation.

Following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the Act came into force in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The law ensures child protection under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and India’s obligations as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In this case, the court imposed the maximum punishment permissible under law, sending a strong message against crimes of child sexual abuse.