Browsing: Human Rights

Reliable Ocular Evidence and POCSO Convictions: Supreme Court’s Approach

Human Rights By 0

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that convictions under the POCSO Act need not fail for want of medical evidence if ocular testimony is credible and consistent. In Dinesh Kumar Jaldhari v. State of Chhattisgarh (2025), the Court upheld a conviction for aggravated sexual assault on a four-year-old child, relying on consistent parental testimony and trauma-induced behaviour, despite the absence of external injuries. The ruling underscores that medical evidence is corroborative, not substantive, and that courts must adopt a sensitive, victim-centric approach where child victims may be unable to fully articulate their trauma. This jurisprudence ensures that justice is not defeated by technical gaps in forensic proof.