Delhi Court Sentences Temple Priest to 15 Years for Assaulting Minor Boy
A Delhi court has sentenced a 53-year-old temple priest to 15 years in jail for sexually assaulting a minor boy eight years ago. The court emphasized the severity of the crime, noting its impact on the child’s psychology and society at large.
Details of the Case
An FIR was registered at the Punjabi Bagh police station in 2016 regarding the crime. Special Judge Harleen Singh pronounced the sentence on August 8. The priest was convicted under sections of the POCSO Act and other related offences under the IPC.
Judge’s Statement
The judge stated, “It leaves an indelible mark upon the psychology of the child. Thus, the court ought to deal with cases of sexual offences against children with utmost sensitivity.”
Crime and Punishment
The court noted that the victim, a regular volunteer at the temple, was sexually abused by the priest for two months. The convict was fined Rs 1.10 lakh, and the victim was granted a compensation of Rs 4 lakh.
Doubts Revealed
Delhi Court -: A Delhi Court is a place in Delhi where judges make decisions about legal cases. Delhi is the capital city of India.
Temple Priest -: A temple priest is a person who performs religious duties and rituals in a temple, which is a place where people go to worship.
Assaulting -: Assaulting means hurting someone physically or emotionally. In this case, it means the priest did something very bad to the boy.
Minor Boy -: A minor boy is a boy who is under 18 years old. In India, people under 18 are considered minors and need special protection.
Sexually Assaulting -: Sexually assaulting means doing something inappropriate or harmful to someone’s private parts without their permission. It is a very serious crime.
Psychology -: Psychology is the study of the mind and how people think and feel. The crime affected how the boy thinks and feels.
POCSO Act -: The POCSO Act is a law in India that protects children from sexual offenses. POCSO stands for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences.
IPC -: IPC stands for Indian Penal Code. It is a set of laws in India that define different crimes and their punishments.
Volunteer -: A volunteer is someone who helps out without getting paid. The boy was helping at the temple without expecting money.
Compensation -: Compensation is money given to someone to make up for something bad that happened to them. The boy received money to help him after the crime.
Rs 4 lakh -: Rs 4 lakh means 400,000 rupees. Rupees are the currency used in India.
Fined -: Fined means having to pay money as a punishment for doing something wrong. The priest had to pay money as part of his punishment.
Rs 1.10 lakh -: Rs 1.10 lakh means 110,000 rupees. This is the amount the priest was fined.