The Supreme Court has used its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to overturn the conviction of a man sentenced under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The case involved the man marrying the victim after they both turned adults and reaching a settlement. Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar allowed the appeal by Tamil Nadu resident Maruthupandi against his conviction and acquitted him.
In a specific ruling for this case, the apex court emphasized that this decision should not be considered a precedent. The case originated from the victim’s complaint that the accused had engaged in sexual activities with her when she was a minor. Maruthupandi was convicted by a Fast Track Mahila Court in Dharmapuri in April 2019 and sentenced to 10 years in prison along with a fine. However, during the appeal process, the victim expressed a desire to live with the accused after settling their differences.
The Madras High Court rejected the victim’s plea to present additional evidence, leading the accused to appeal to the Supreme Court. The top court directed the victim’s statement to be recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The victim confirmed the accused’s actions when she was a minor but later disclosed that they had married in 2024 after her failed marriage with another person.
The Supreme Court took into account the compensation paid by the accused to the victim and the victim’s decision to end the legal proceedings. With the victim receiving the compensation and expressing no objection to setting aside the conviction, the court acquitted the accused. The Tamil Nadu government also supported setting aside the conviction due to the unique circumstances of the case, emphasizing that this decision should not be a precedent for future cases.
