Kupwara: The Court of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kupwara, has sentenced a man to five years of rigorous imprisonment in a case involving sexual assault on a minor child under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The conviction arose from FIR No. 30/2020 registered at Police Station Vilgam in the case titled Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir vs. Jameel Ahmad Mughal. The accused, Jameel Ahmad Mughal of Nawbugh, Champora Vilgam, was found guilty under Section 8 of the POCSO Act, which deals with punishment for sexual assault on a child.
After hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence, the court imposed the maximum prescribed punishment of five years’ rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of ₹20,000. In case of default, the convict shall undergo an additional three months of simple imprisonment.
In its order, the court highlighted the aggravating circumstances, observing that the victim was approximately three years old, rendering the offence particularly grave. It further noted that the accused had breached a position of trust, as he was working at the complainant’s residence at the time of the incident. Emphasising the wider societal impact of such offences, the court held that a deterrent sentence was warranted.
The defence sought leniency on grounds including the accused’s custody since April 2020, absence of prior criminal antecedents, and his socio-economic background. However, the court found that these considerations did not mitigate the seriousness of the offence.
The court granted the benefit of set-off under Section 428 of the CrPC for the period already undergone in custody. It also directed that the fine amount be disbursed to the victim as compensation under Section 357 of the CrPC, with liberty for additional compensation under the Victim Compensation Scheme.
