Patna High Court Says Rape Destroys Personality Of Survivor And Causes Lifelong Trauma
As we all know, trauma is a response to an event that a person finds extremely stressful and it also causes a range of physical and emotional symptoms which can leave a person scarred for life which is so disturbing and saddening, to be honest. Recently, Patna High Court upheld the conviction and life term of an accused who had raped his two minor daughters and observed that rape can destroy the personality of the survivor and can cause lifelong trauma to them.
During the hearing of a case wherein the father repeatedly raped his two minor daughters, the bench of Justices Anant Badar and Rajesh Kumar Verma said that rape causes physical, emotional, and psychological trauma to the survivor. They mentioned that rape is a ‘ghastly act’ which leaves the victim shattered for life because not only does it causes physical but emotional and psychological trauma to the victim as well. The Court added that sexual activities with minor girls have a traumatic effect on them, which persists throughout their whole life and often destruct the whole personality of the sexual assault victim.
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While referring to the Supreme Court’s verdict in Bharwada Bhoginbhai Hirjibhai v. the State of Gujarat, the Patna High Court noted that the top court has held that rarely a girl or woman in our country makes a false allegation of sexual assault. The Court also rejected the argument that the two minor girls falsely implicated their father.
Speaking of the case, the accused man’s wife died by suicide in the year 2007 due to the frequent fights between her and the accused. After her demise, the accused started sexually assaulting his elder daughter, who was a minor at that time but she didn’t complain about him to anyone.
After some time, the man started abusing his younger daughter as well and then, the elder daughter informed the same to their maternal aunt. The two girls lodged a complaint against their father in 2013 under charges of rape (376) under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Also Read: Kerala HC Stresses Importance Of Sex Education In Schools Due To Rising Child Pregnancies Caused By Rape, Sexual Assault
The Patna High Court also said that the Court is expected to shoulder great responsibility and is required to deal with such cases sensibly.
