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This is an archive article published on January 31, 2024
Top court acquits man accused under SC/ST Act for molesting maid
The bench also comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Sandeep Mehta set aside trial court order convicting the accused as well as the Chhattisgarh High Court order upholding his conviction under SC/ST Act.
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On appeal, the HC upheld the conviction under the SC & ST Act and acquitted him of offences under the IPC. (Representational Image)The Supreme Court has acquitted a man of charges of outraging the modesty of a woman under section 3(1)(xi) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, pointing out that the alleged offence was not committed for reasons of caste.
A three-judge bench presided by Justice B R Gavai said “the language of Section 3(1)(x) of the SC/ST Act…provides that the offence must be committed upon a person belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes with the intention that it was being done on the ground of caste”.
The bench also comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Sandeep Mehta set aside trial court order convicting the accused as well as the Chhattisgarh High Court order upholding his conviction under SC/ST Act.
The trial court convicted him in September 2022 for offences punishable under Sections 451 (House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC and Section 3(1)(xi) of the SC/ST Act.
On appeal, the HC upheld the conviction under the SC & ST Act and acquitted him of offences under the IPC.
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