Rape accused can be convicted on sole testimony of victim: SC

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) In a ruling with wide ramifications for victims of sexual assault, the Supreme Court has ruled that conviction in rape case can be based on sole testimony of the victim without any corroborative evidence including the medical report.

The Supreme Court, in a judgment dated May 11, delivered by a bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice S H Kapadia, stated that it was ''settled law that the victim of sexual assault is not treated as accomplice and as such, her evidence does not require corroboration from any other evidence, including that of a doctor.

''In a given case, even if the doctor, who examined the victim, does not find any sign of rape, it is no ground to disbelieve the sole testimony of the prosecutrix.'' Dismissing the appeal filed by one Om Prakash of Hardoi in UP, who was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for raping a pregnant woman, the apex court also ruled that courts including itself, high courts and other subordinate courts must not disclose the identity of the victim as it is an offence under section 228-A of the IPC.

The court further noted that the offence of printing and publishing the name of victim of rape or sexual assault can be punished. Disclosure of identity of such victim may lead to her social victimisation or ostracism, it noted.

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