Share
KOHIMA— In an interview with Eastern Mirror, CT Jamir, the president of the High Court Bar Association, Kohima, stated that rape is punishable under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and that individuals convicted of rape face a minimum of seven years in prison, which can extend to life in prison, in addition to fines.
According to Jamir, the severity of the punishment depends on the nature of the crime committed by the accused and the charges brought by the court.
He added that while the minimum mandatory term of imprisonment is seven years, the court has the discretion to extend the sentence to life in prison, taking into account the gravity of the offence.
Although there is no time limit for filing rape cases, early reporting is advantageous, claimed Jamir, as delayed filings may have risk factors and could be abused for personal vendettas.
The president stressed the importance of quick action and urged victims, their family members, and relatives to file an FIR as soon as the offence occurs. He also mentioned cases where women had filed cases against men for various reasons after a long period of time in order to exact revenge.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]Providing insights into the penalties for rape under the IPC and emphasising the need for stringent punishments to discourage such heinous crimes and create a safer society for all, he stated that where cruelty is involved, the sentences can range from 10 to 20 years or even life imprisonment. He added that the court can impose a life sentence for sexually assaulting a minor or a major without consent.
"Committing rape is a very serious case," he said.
The senior advocate emphasised the importance of imposing harsh penalties as a deterrent and to sensitise society about the seriousness of such offences.
He claimed that many cases of rape went unreported in the past due to a lack of an effective communication system; however, with modern communication infrastructure, this is no longer the case, and such cases now come to the surface quickly.
Jamir also addressed the issue of people taking the law into their own hands, calling it unacceptable.
Recognising that there have been cases where accused persons have been lynched by mobs, he emphasised the importance of turning such persons over to the police so that the law can take its course and added that people commit multiple offences for a single offence when they take the law into their own hands.
Jamir explained in response to a question about penalties for cases such as the incident in Manipur in which two women were paraded naked, that such actions are punishable under the IPC and have distinct provisions.
It should be noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the Manipur case for further investigation.
When asked about rape cases in Nagaland involving female perpetrators, Jamir responded that he had not encountered any such cases to date, but he expressed concern that such incidents may occur in the future as a result of shifting societal dynamics and behavioural patterns.