P. RAMASWAMY vs STATE (U.T.)OF ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision to modify the appellant's conviction from Section 3(1)(xi) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to Section 354 IPC, due to lack of evidence that the victim was targeted because of her Scheduled Tribe status. The Court affirmed the High Court's reduction of the sentence from one year to six months rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 3,000. The Court also noted that the High Court correctly ruled it could not entertain a request to compound the offence post-judgment as it had become functus officio.