. CHANDIGARH: A “victim’s absolutely normal mental state” after an alleged Pocso case offence raises serious doubts about the credibility of allegations, Punjab and Haryana High Court said in a recent order while suspending the five-year sentence of a teacher convicted of molesting a student. HC noted the Class VIII student attended a PTM with her parents the day after the alleged offence, took photographs at school, and posted them on Instagram with the caption “School Mein Maje”. “Such behaviour cannot reasonably be anticipated from a minor who was subjected to sexual molestation by her teacher at school merely a day prior,” Justice Namit Kumar said in the order, passed on a petition by the teacher. On Nov 8, 2024, a fast-track special court in Chandigarh convicted the teacher in a Pocso case registered on Nov 2, 2022, awarding the maximum sentence of five years. His appeal against conviction was admitted by High Court in Nov last year. The prosecution alleged the teacher called the student, engaged in obscene talk and touched her inappropriately on Nov 2, 2022. Out of fear, she left school but narrated the offence to her father after arriving home. The teacher, on the other hand, claimed the girl harboured a grudge against him as he had caught her in a “compromising position” with a boy and reprimanded her around a month earlier. “The teacher had only called the girl to the staff room to question her over the use of a mobile phone during school hours, instructing her to bring her parents and the phone the next day for the PTM,” his counsel said. The bench observed the mental state of the survivor remained “absolutely normal” even after the alleged offence, casting serious doubt on the veracity of her allegations and indicating the offence did not take place. HC said any child who experienced such an incident must have been mentally traumatised for a while. “The conduct and demeanour of the prosecutrix subsequent to the alleged incident does not inspire confidence in the prosecution version, and the behaviour of the prosecutrix exhibits no sign of fear, trauma, and emotional distress that would ordinarily be expected from a victim of such a grave offence,” High Court said. The sentence shall remain suspended till the appeal against conviction is decided.About the AuthorAjay SuraAjay Sura is Senior Assistant Editor with The Times of India Chandigarh. He covers news concerning the State of Haryana, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Defence & Military Affairs. He likes to analyse political developments and decoding judicial pronouncements. His hobbies include travelling, mountaineering and trekking.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMaha Gajraj Exercise: IAF Conducts Highway Landing Operations Near Barmer-Jalore Border12 Killed In Car Bomb Blast In Islamabad; PM Sharif Blames ‘India-Sponsored Terrorist Proxies”Hunt Down Every…’: Amit Shah Says Delhi Car Blast Culprits To Face ‘Full Wrath Of Agencies’Bihar Exit Polls 2025: Poll of Polls Show NDA Poised For Majority, MGB Trails, No Impact of JSP’Op Sindoor Taught Us…’: Army Chief Dwivedi On Role Of Modern Tech In Warfare At Cavalry Seminar‘We Love India’: Bhutan King Reaffirms Ties As PM Modi Unveils Connectivity, Energy BoostBangladesh Elections: Awami League, BNP Allege Lawlessness Under Yunus, Fear Violence In PollsIndia Tells UNSC To Enforce Zero-Tolerance On Terror Strictly Hours After Delhi Blast Kills Twelve’No Silver Medals In War’: CDS Chauhan Highlights India’s Technological Leap Amid Rising ThreatsLucknow Doctor Tasked By JeM To Form Women’s Terror Wing In India, Police Link To Delhi Blast Probe123PhotostoriesDiabetes reports normal? 5 hidden, unusual signs blood sugar is not in control and what to do about itDirectors’ daughters shine as they carry forward a legacy of talent3 popular breakfasts you should stop giving your kids and whyExclusive – Bigg Boss 19: From addressing his romantic link-up with Ashnoor Kaur, Pranit More evicting him to ex-wife’s cheating allegations on him: Abhishek Bajaj breaks silenceMantra You Should Chant According To Your Birth DateFunny parenting quotes every tired mom and dad will relate toFathers who feel deeply: Rare and underrated quotes about modern dadsThe gut repairs overnight: 6 bedtime drinks that helpHow to choose a perfectly ripe avocado every time from the clues present on its skin8 Bollywood actresses who swear by ghee every morning and why123Hot PicksBihar Election CandidatesBihar Election ConstituenciesBihar Election 2025Gold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingWho is Brittany MillerSan Jose SharksStephen Curry WifeMichael Ray Richardson Net WorthMichael Willis Cause of DeathNHL Injury UpdateStephen CurryCandace OwensMichael Duarte Cause of DeathNico Harrison
CHANDIGARH: A “victim’s absolutely normal mental state” after an alleged Pocso case offence raises serious doubts about the credibility of allegations, Punjab and Haryana High Court said in a recent order while suspending the five-year sentence of a teacher convicted of molesting a student. HC noted the Class VIII student attended a PTM with her parents the day after the alleged offence, took photographs at school, and posted them on Instagram with the caption “School Mein Maje”. “Such behaviour cannot reasonably be anticipated from a minor who was subjected to sexual molestation by her teacher at school merely a day prior,” Justice Namit Kumar said in the order, passed on a petition by the teacher. On Nov 8, 2024, a fast-track special court in Chandigarh convicted the teacher in a Pocso case registered on Nov 2, 2022, awarding the maximum sentence of five years. His appeal against conviction was admitted by High Court in Nov last year. The prosecution alleged the teacher called the student, engaged in obscene talk and touched her inappropriately on Nov 2, 2022. Out of fear, she left school but narrated the offence to her father after arriving home. The teacher, on the other hand, claimed the girl harboured a grudge against him as he had caught her in a “compromising position” with a boy and reprimanded her around a month earlier. “The teacher had only called the girl to the staff room to question her over the use of a mobile phone during school hours, instructing her to bring her parents and the phone the next day for the PTM,” his counsel said. The bench observed the mental state of the survivor remained “absolutely normal” even after the alleged offence, casting serious doubt on the veracity of her allegations and indicating the offence did not take place. HC said any child who experienced such an incident must have been mentally traumatised for a while. “The conduct and demeanour of the prosecutrix subsequent to the alleged incident does not inspire confidence in the prosecution version, and the behaviour of the prosecutrix exhibits no sign of fear, trauma, and emotional distress that would ordinarily be expected from a victim of such a grave offence,” High Court said. The sentence shall remain suspended till the appeal against conviction is decided.
