Case Repository

In cases where the child survivor is found to be worthy of credence and reliable even if other witnesses turn hostile, conviction can be based on her sole testimony. No corroboration is required.

Para 8.1-12, Pages 4-9

Conviction can be based on the sole testimony of the survivor, without any further corroboration, provided the testimony is found reliable and trustworthy. Even in the absence of any external or internal injuries on the person of the survivor, the conviction can be sustained.

Para 4-11, Pages 3-11

Corroborative evidence is not an imperative component of judicial credence in every case of rape. If the testimony of the child is reliable and inspires confidence, courts can convict on the disposition of the child victim alone. Supposed considerations which have no material effect on the veracity of the prosecution case or even discrepancies in…

Para 9 and 13 Page 5-7, 10

Conviction can be based on the sole testimony of the child survivor. Corroboration of the child survivor’s testimony is only a general prudence necessitated in certain circumstances and is not a requirement of law. Minor inconsistencies are immaterial and must not form a ground for throwing out an otherwise reliable prosecution case.

Para 5, 15-20; Page 5, 8-10

Conviction can be based on the sole testimony of the prosecutrix. There is only need to look for corroboration when the prosecution’s case suffers from high improbabilities.

Para 19; Page 11

Conviction for rape can be based on the sole testimony of the victim and the same does not require corroboration, provided that the testimony is natural and trustworthy. The Court must look at the broad probabilities, not discard the testimony due to minor contradictions which are not substantial in character given that they are usually…

Para 383-393; Page 200-205

The court held that the concerned authorities of the State Government or Central Government will take some initiative in incorporating certain amendments under relevant laws so as to give status to Section 164 statement as that of examination-in-chief in all eventualities. The trauma that a victim has to undergo, after the incident does not stop…

Para 48; Page 13, 14

A conviction can be sustained on the sole testimony of the child survivor and there is no need for corroboration unless there exist compelling reasons for the same. Further, minor discrepancies in the child survivor's statement will not discredit an otherwise reliable prosecution case.

Para 27; Page 4

Testimony of a child can only be relied on if it is intelligible. A testimony is intelligible based on (a) the ability to understand questions put to the witness and (b) give answers to those questions that can be understood. If evidence is in the favour of the victim, mere lapses in the victim's statement…

Para 29-31, 34-37, 39-41, 42-44, 50, 61, 72-75; Page 5-8, 11, 14

Convictions can be sustained on the sole testimony of the child survivor when found cogent and reliable, and corroboration is not necessary.. The testimony of the child survivor of a sex related offence must be given the same evidentiary value as that to an injured person in cases of physical violence.

Para 13, 18; Page 4, 5