Overview

• A Supreme Court bench led by Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta upheld a 2019 conviction for aggravated penetrative sexual assault of a minor under the POCSO Act.
• The justices replaced the sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of natural life with rigorous life imprisonment as allowed by the unamended Section 6.
• Citing Article 20(1) of the Constitution, the bench barred retroactive application of enhanced penalties introduced after the offence in May 2019.
• The ₹10,000 fine imposed by lower courts was maintained by the Supreme Court.
• The July 25 verdict resolves the man’s appeal against a September 2023 Chhattisgarh High Court ruling and clarifies the non-retroactivity of the 2019 amendment.