The court observed that a teacher is like a parent. Despite this, the convict exploited the trust of his student for his 'depraved gratification'. The judge convicted the teacher for rape under IPC and aggravated assault under Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act
The teacher was 46 years old when he had committed the crime in 2016. Representational image
A teacher from Delhi has been imprisoned for lifetime for raping and impregnating a 15-year-old student in 2016. The Delhi court observed that the teacher held a position similar to that of a parent, yet he still exploited that trust for his ‘depraved gratification,’ reported PTI.
According to the reports, the man was convicted for rape under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and aggravated pentrative sexual assault under Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).
When he committed the offence, he was then 46 years old. The victim had not only suffered physically but mentally as well, which later claimed her life, the court observed.
Additional sessions judge Rajesh Kumar was hearing the arguments on sentencing against the man.
In an order passed on May 7, the court said, "The convict Rajeev despite being the school teacher, repeatedly committed rape/aggravated penetrative sexual assault upon the victim in the school and due to the act, the minor got pregnant and also gave birth to a baby boy."
The court further observed that it appeared that "passion/lust had overpowered him" to such an extent that he committed the offence upon the survivor. The fact that the accused was in a position of loco parentis to the victim, and exploited that trust for his own depraved gratification, is a severely aggravating factor.”
The judge also stated that the "trauma inflicted upon the victim was not merely physical, but it was a deep psychological wound that might take years to heal".
"The tender age of the victim and the long-lasting trauma she was likely to suffer as a result of this abhorrent act cannot be understated. Keeping in view the paramount need to protect the children from sexual offences, gravity of the offence, vulnerability of the victim, the need to uphold the principles of justice and to send a strong message to the society, this court is of the considered opinion that this is a fit case for awarding the stringent sentence," the judge said.
Special public prosecutor Ashish Kajal sought a "deterrent punishment" arguing that the convict was in the noble teaching profession aside from being the minor survivor's guardian at school, reported PTI.
Life imprisonment means a convict spending the rest of his natural life in prison.
After observing that the survivor died a few years after the crime, the judge awarded Rs 16.5 lakh compensation to the mother of the victim.
(With inputs from PTI)
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