RATHEESH Vs. STATE OF KERALA & ANR.
CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 (CrPC)
Section 357 - Order to pay compensation
Supreme Court of India (Division Bench (DB)- Two Judge)
Special Leave Petition (Crl.), 1759 of 2015, Judgment Date: Oct 15, 2015
NON-REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITON (CRIMINAL) NO.1759 OF 2015
Ratheesh ….Petitioner
versus
State of Kerala & Anr. …Respondents
J U D G M E N T
Madan B. Lokur, J.
1. This petition is directed against the judgment and sentence
dated 6th September, 2013 passed by the High Court of Kerala in Crl. Rev.
Pet. No. 823 of 2012.
2. It is not necessary to go into the detailed facts of the
case since we are considering the matter as the fourth Court in the
hierarchy and are not inclined to encourage a detailed scrutiny of the
facts and evidence at this stage.
3. Broadly, the allegation against the appellant is that he
had raped PW1 his cousin on 20th October, 2002 and thereafter had promised
to marry her. The petitioner and PW1 are said to have had sexual
intercourse on three subsequent occasions as well, on the promise to marry
given by the petitioner. PW1 was later on found to be pregnant and has
since delivered a child. As far as the petitioner is concerned, he refused
to marry PW1 and that led to her lodging a complaint against him for
offences punishable under Section 376 and Section 417 of the Indian Penal
Code.
4. The trial judge, that is, the Additional Assistant
Sessions Judge, Kottayam considered the evidence on record and by his
judgment and order dated 11th March, 2005 accepted the version of PW1 and
convicted the petitioner of the offences punishable under Section 376 and
Section 417 of the IPC. On the question of sentence, the Trial Court
sentenced him to seven years rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.
35,000/- and in default thereof to undergo further simple imprisonment for
a period of one year. It was directed that if the fine amount is realized
then Rs. 30,000/- would be given to PW1 as compensation under Section 357
of the Cr. P.C.
5. Feeling aggrieved, the petitioner preferred an appeal
before the Additional Sessions Judge (Adhoc-II). The first appellate court
found no reason to interfere with the judgment and sentence delivered by
the Trial Court and accordingly dismissed the appeal.
6. Feeling aggrieved, the petitioner preferred a Revision
Petition before the High Court which was dismissed by the impugned judgment
and order dated 6th September, 2013. The High Court, despite its limited
revisional jurisdiction, went into the facts of the case and accepted the
version of PW1 and affirmed the conviction of the petitioner. However, with
regard to the sentence of imprisonment, the High Court reduced the period
from seven years to two years rigorous imprisonment. With regard to the
fine, it was directed that the entire fine of Rs. 35,000/- if recovered
shall be paid to PW1 and in default thereof to undergo further simple
imprisonment for a period of six months.
7. Feeling aggrieved, the petitioner is now before us under
Article 136 of the Constitution.
8. As mentioned above, we are not inclined to look into the
evidence despite the persuasion of learned counsel for the petitioner.
Three Courts have already gone into the evidence on record and had arrived
at a conclusion which we do not find to be perverse. We may have a
difference of opinion on the facts of the case but a mere difference of
opinion is not sufficient to result in interference with views expressed by
three courts particularly after each one of them has discussed the evidence
in detail.
9. Under these circumstances, we decline to exercise our
discretion and do not interfere with the judgment and order passed by the
High Court including the punishment awarded to the petitioner.
10. The petition is dismissed.
...…………………….J
(Madan B. Lokur)
...…………………….J
(S.A. Bobde)
New Delhi;
October 15, 2015