A youth, convicted for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old mentally challenged girl here, has been awarded life term by a Delhi court which observed that children were important national assets' and future of the nation depends on how they grow and develop.
Additional Sessions Judge Illa Rawat handed down the jail term to Rohini resident Manoj for the offence under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences(POCSO) Act.
"It has been time and again emphasised in various legislations, international declarations as well as judicial pronouncements that children are a 'supremely important national asset' and the future well-being of nation depends on how its children grow and develop," the judge said.
While relying on the testimony of the victim, the court said, "The fact that victim has been diagnosed to be a case of mild mental retardation does not mean that her testimony is inadmissible and is liable to be thrown out, per se".
The judge also noted that her testimony was corroborated by the statements of other witnesses and her medical report.
"The prosecution has successfully proved the guilt of the accused Manoj on record, beyond the reasonable doubts...I hold him guilty of the offences under section 5 (k) of POCSO Act," the judge said.
The court also awarded the girl a compensation of Rs two lakh through Delhi Legal Service Authority (North West) to provide restorative and compensatory justice to her, saying that it be used "for her welfare and rehabilitation".
According to the prosecution, on May 14, 2013, the girl, who has been residing with her elder sister and her family since her parents died, was alone at home with her six-year- old niece when Manoj entered the house and sexually assaulted her.
