All the dreams of 12-year-old Seema (name changed) came to a standstill when she was impregnated by her neighbour who put her through repeated sexual assault.

At such a tender age, the innocent child not just got pregnant, but also had to deliver the baby as it was too late to seek an abortion. Our team learned about the case upon receiving a call on the BBA (Bachpan Bachao Andolan) helpline number, asking for legal and medical support for the victim. We immediately took the matter into our hands and made all possible efforts to help Seema and her family, who reside in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.

Timeline of Events

• Our team collaborated with the DLSA (District Legal Services Authority) to provide legal assistance to the victim, and with the CWC (Child Welfare Committee) to ensure the safe delivery of the child and to follow the appropriate procedures for the adoption process under the JJ Act (Juvenile Justice Act)
• In May, the DLSA appointed a legal aid lawyer, and the CWC Betul appointed Childline as a support person for this case
• On 6th May 2020, the Special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Court ordered an interim compensation of Rs. 50,000 for the victim
• The charge sheet was filed in May 2020 and the trial began
• We received information from a relative of the victim that the compensation had not been received. We followed up with the DLSA and SLSA (State Legal Services Authority), and in September 2021, an amount of Rs. 50,000 was credited to the victim’s account. The District and Sessions Court awarded a final compensation of Rs 1,00,000 to the victim, out of which Rs. 50,000 was already paid as interim compensation on 6th May 2020

Overcoming Hurdles

We were also informed by the relative that the POCSO Court had determined the victim’s age to be above 18 years. The police had not submitted the correct age document, and the court ordered an ossification test, which indicated that the age of the child victim was above 18 years. The victim’s family shared that the legal aid lawyer and the prosecution were not supporting their case. To make matters worse, the convict threatened to kill the victim if she disclosed the incident to anyone.

However, with our constant efforts and based on the evidence presented in the court, the Honorable Judge determined that the victim was 13 years old when she was impregnated as a result of aggravated penetrative sexual assault and rape. In a major achievement, the accused was convicted by the District and Sessions Court and sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs. 11,000.

While the accused has filed an appeal against the conviction before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, our team is making every possible effort to not let the culprit slip by. Justice shall prevail.