PARSHOTAM LAL vs STATE OF PUNJAB

The Supreme Court held that the conviction under Section 376 IPC was justified as the victim, Tripta, was below the age of consent, and the evidence indicated she was subjected to sexual intercourse after being kidnapped. The Court found that the Sessions Judge's decision to drop charges for lack of territorial jurisdiction was erroneous, as the kidnapping and rape were part of the same transaction. The High Court's reduction of the sentence from four years to one and a half years was upheld, emphasizing that consent was irrelevant due to Tripta's age.