Click to play videoNew Delhi: Ruchika molestation case shows the infirmities in the Indian judicial system. The loopholes in the Indian Penal Code give many reasons to people like SPS Rathore to smile. Child abuse is not recognised in the IPC.
Rathore, who is convicted of molesting 14-year-old Ruchika, won’t have to spend a day in prison as he is already out on bail after the court sentenced him for a six months prison.
“Sadly there is lot that could have been done in this case. The charges should have been much stronger and the case should have been heard quickly,” says lawyer Keerti Singh.
Even Ruchika’s family and friends say if things had moved quicker, she would have been alive today.
The CBI chargesheet clearly indicates that the DGP had planned to molest her. He stopped her father from sending her on a Canada trip, forced her to go inside his office despite Ruchika’s protest and molested her for a second time a few days later.
However, the law did not do much for her.
Child abuse is not even recognised by the IPC, which only criminalises rape and sodomy. Anything less than rape, is called ‘outraging modesty’, leaving a sexually abused child without legal protection.
While states like Andhra Pradesh have amended the law, to come down heavily on such cases, over 50 per cent of Indian children continue to be abused.
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