18 March 2024 FIR >> Criminal Law   |   Rape >> Criminal Law  

In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court of India has weighed in on a controversial case. The case involved a woman who accused four men of raping her under the false promise of marriage and coercing her into an abortion. The High Court had earlier quashed the charges against the men, and the woman appealed to the Supreme Court. The top court's decision has sparked debate, with some questioning the dismissal of the charges.

The woman, who is the Appellant in this case, had originally filed a complaint against the four men (Respondents) alleging that they had sexual relations with her over a period of time and then forced her to terminate her pregnancy. The crux of the case revolved around the promise of marriage - the appellant claimed the men had made false promises to marry her in order to coerce her into sexual relations.

The High Court, however, found inconsistencies in the woman's statements. Her initial complaint mentioned being admitted to a hospital for the abortion, but the hospital itself denied any such admission. Additionally, the court noted that the couple had been in a relationship for several years before the alleged offences took place. The lack of evidence for a false promise further weakened the case.

The Supreme Court, in its judgement, acknowledged that the power to quash criminal proceedings is used sparingly. However, they justified the High Court's decision in this case. They reasoned that allowing the case to continue would amount to an abuse of the legal system, given the inconsistencies and lack of evidence for a central claim.

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973