POCSO Conviction Fails Without Statutory Age Proof, Rape Conviction Can Continue Under Section 376 IPC: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India has partly allowed the criminal appeal filed by Pynchemalangaki Bareh in a case arising from Meghalaya, holding that although the prosecution failed to legally establish that the victim was a minor for the purposes of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, the evidence clearly established the commission of rape. The Court therefore set aside the conviction under Section 3 read with Section…