Latest news with #MahilaCourt
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- The Hindu
Man sentenced to life in prison for kidnap and rape of minor girl in the Nilgiris
A 31-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, by the Ooty Fast Track Mahila Court on Monday. The man, identified as R. Murali from Kil Kotagiri, is said to have lured the victim, kidnapped her and sexually assaulted her. Following the information coming to light, he was booked under sections 366(A) (procuration of minor girl), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376(A) (rape), 506(ii) (criminal intimidation) read with various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The incident occurred in January, 2020. The Nilgiris district police, in a statement to the press, said a case had been registered against Murali in the Coonoor All Woman Police Station and the prosecution was handled by Special Public Prosecutor (Mahila Court), P. Senthil Kumar. On Monday, Mahila Court Judge M. Senthil Kumar sentenced Murali to life in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of ₹15,000.
News18
11-07-2025
- News18
'Conditioned To Blame Girl': Madras HC Cuts Jail Term Of Women Who Abetted Teen's Suicide For Love Affair
The HC said the women, though from the boy's family, targeted the girl, a response rooted in internalised misogyny, without realising that they were victims of the same mindset The Madras High Court recently upheld the conviction of two women accused of abetting the suicide of a 15-year-old girl but significantly reduced their prison sentence, citing their socio-economic hardship and internalised misogyny. In 2011, in Kuniamuthur, Coimbatore, a minor girl set herself ablaze after facing humiliation from her lover's aunts, Kayar Nisha and Rafia. The girl had fallen in love with her 19-year-old neighbour Saddam Hussain, and their families had consented to their marriage. However, the two aunts vehemently opposed the alliance. On August 18, 2011, the accused confronted the girl outside her house, hurled sexually coloured abuses, and even told her to go and die. The girl, distraught and alone at the time, ran inside, poured kerosene on herself, and set herself on fire. She succumbed to her burn injuries on September 2, 2011. The police initially registered a case under Section 309 IPC (attempt to suicide), but after her death and a detailed investigation, including a dying declaration, the charge was altered to Section 305 IPC (abetment of suicide of a minor). The Mahila Court convicted both women in 2016, sentencing them to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000 each. On appeal, the bench of Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy of the high court upheld the conviction, noting that the accused's words were 'excessively harsh and sexually charged" and would have had a deep psychological impact on a minor. 'Their conduct of going to the girl and admonishing her is inherently unacceptable, and the words spoken by the accused are excessively harsh and extremely sexually charged, likely to drive any 15-year-old child to suicide," the judge held. However, the court chose to reduce their sentence, citing their background. Kayar Nisha, 64, is a widow who works as a domestic help and suffers from hypertension. Rafia, 40, is a daily wager with two young children. The court also highlighted that the women's actions were influenced by internalised misogyny, conditioned by a patriarchal society that often blames the girl in matters of relationships. 'Their behaviour stems from internalised misogyny, which is a product of our male-dominated society. They are conditioned to question the female without realising they themselves are victims of such a mindset. In doing so, they harmed a girl child and made themselves liable for punishment," the judge observed. The sentence was reduced to the time already served, 90 days for Kayar Nisha and 83 days for Rafia. However, their fine was increased to Rs 20,000 each, to be paid within four weeks or face two months' simple imprisonment. Suicide Prevention: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- The Hindu
Government school teacher in Nilgiris arrested under POCSO Act
A 50-year-old government school teacher in Nilgiris district was arrested on Thursday night under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on charges of sexually harassing girl students. The accused has been remanded in judicial custody and lodged in the Ooty sub-jail. The accused had worked as a science teacher in government schools across Tamil Nadu for over two decades. In June 2023, he was posted to a government school in the district where he taught science to students from Classes VII, VIII, and XI. According to the police, a recent awareness session on personal safety conducted by police department at the school helped uncover the crime. During the session, students were educated on 'good' and 'bad' touch. After the session, a Class VI student informed authorities that the teacher had touched her inappropriately. Following this, 20 other students came forward with similar complaints. Based on the complaints, the Ooty Rural Police registered a case under POCSO Act. A team led by Inspector P. Vijaya of the Ooty All-Women Police Station (Rural) arrested the accused. He was subsequently produced before the Mahila Court in Ooty and remanded in judicial custody The police and Child Welfare Committee officials plan to conduct inquiries at all his previous workplaces to determine if similar incidents occurred elsewhere.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- The Hindu
Man sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault, child marriage in the Nilgiris
The Special Fast Track Mahila Court in Udhagamandalam on Monday sentenced a 48-year-old man to life in prison for sexually assaulting and marrying a minor girl at Gudalur in the Nilgiris in 2021. According to P. Senthil Kumar, Special Public Prosecutor (Ooty Mahila Court), Ramanathan from Ramanathapuram had struck up a relationship with the victim over phone during lockdown. He had then visited the victim at her home and convinced her mother, who was named as Accused No. 2 in the case, to stay in their home. It was alleged that when the victim's mother left for work on May 19, 2021, that Ramanathan had sexually assaulted the victim. A few months later, when it came to her notice that the victim was pregnant, her own mother arranged for her to marry Ramanathan at their house. When the incident came to light, child welfare officials registered a complaint with the Gudalur All Woman Police Station, who charged Ramanathan under various Sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Child Marriage Act, 1929. On Tuesday, Mahila Court judge M. Senthil Kumar sentenced Ramanathan to life in prison after charges of sexual assault were proven against him. He was also sentenced to two years in prison for offences committed violating the Child Marriage Act, and fined a cumulative amount of ₹10,500. The victim's mother, who was also charged for offences under the Child Marriage Act, was sentenced to serve 160-days in prison. As she had already served time awaiting trial, she was let off after being fined ₹200.
New Indian Express
01-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Pocso convict in TN walks free after survivor says she married him
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has set aside a trial court order, convicting and sentencing a man to 20 years imprisonment in a case filed under the Pocso Act, by taking into account the statement of the alleged survivor girl that she had married the accused and the two have a child. Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan passed the order recently on an appeal filed by the convict, who was awarded the prison sentence (20 years under Pocso and 10 years under IPC) along with a total fine of Rs 1 lakh after he was found guilty under the Pocso Act for aggravated penetrative sexual assault and Section 366 of IPC – which dealt with kidnap or abducting a woman to compel her for marriage or intercourse – by the Mahila Court in Permabalur on April 4, 2025. The prosecution's case was that the appellant abducted the minor girl on August 10, 2015, and stayed with her till August 20. The police registered a case based on the complaint of the girl's father The trial court found him guilty and handed the punishment despite the statement that they were married and have a child. Challenging the trial court order, the man filed an appeal in the high court. During the hearing before the high court, the girl, who is now a major, appeared before the court along with the female child. She deposed that she married the convict and the two were leading a happy life with their child. The judge directed the appellant to register his marriage and produce the registration certificate to the respondent police station within eight weeks from the date of release from the prison, failing which the judgment will stand automatically cancelled.
