G.M. LODHA J.— A poor Harijan girl, rather a child of seven years raped by a youth of 19 years in day light at 3 p. m. in the agricultural field and yet, the accused, Bhansingh, has dared to appeal against the sentence of 5 years rigorous imprisonment after conviction under Section 376, I.P.C. 2. The girl was found unconscious on the spot on account of the barbarous heinous crime committed by the accused. This Ghastly tragedy resulted in pool of blood on the spot and on the private parts of the helpless child, girl. 3. Shri R. S. Purohit, the learned counsel for the accused, Bhansingh, to start with, argued for the reduction of the sentence but, when the learned Public Prosecutor, Shri K. K. Sharma, pointed out that this court has issued a notice of the enhancement of sentences at the time of the admission of the appeal, a half hearted effort was made by the learned counsel for the accused Bhansingh to challenge the conviction, itself, also. 4. We have given a thoughtful consideration to the submissions of the learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the relevant record of the case also. We find that the judgment of the trial court is well reasoned and based on a thorough discussion of the entire evidence and correct appreciation of the facts. Sushri Bhanwari (Pw 10) a girl of 7-8 years of age has given a graphic description of commission of the offence. She has stated that Jiwani and she went to the agricultural field and in the field a Jiwanis father, accused Bhan-Singh came from behind and after throwing her on the ground opened her underwear and forcibly committed sexual intercourse. She also stated that, when she tried to cry, the accused put his hand on her mouth. She further averred that, she suffered terrible pain on account of the forcible sexual intercourse with her and became unconscious thereafter, and she happened to be conscious only in the hospital. The statement of Sushri Bhanwari is corroborated by Jeewani (Pw 9), Mohanlal (Pw 3), and Mohanram (Pw 4); both of whom went to the spot immediately after the information was received from Jeewani and, saw accused Bhansingh running and, Bhanwari lying fainted with bleedings from her private parts. 5. It was Mohanlal who lodged the first information report, Bhinwaram (Pw 5) also corroborated the prosecution case. 5. It was Mohanlal who lodged the first information report, Bhinwaram (Pw 5) also corroborated the prosecution case. Pw 6 Dr. B.P. Jangid in the medical witness and Dr. V.K. Soni (Pw 8) is also doctor who conducted X-ray of accused for ascertaining the age of the accused. Kurda Ram (Pw 11)and Bhinwaram (Pw 5) saw the girl Bhanwari when she was brought in the village. Dr. Ramswaroop Jaju (pw 14) is the medical witness who examined the victim, Bhanwari on 22nd January, 1980. 6. It has been established on record that Bhanwari, the prosecutrix was 7/8 years of age at the time of the commission of offence and accused, Bhansingh was of 18 years. It has also been established by the eye witness, as well as medical evidence, that the prosecutrix, Bhanwari, was made victim of forcible sexual intercourse by accused, Bhansingh. It was in these circumstances that on account of overwhelming evidence and clinching proof beyond all reasonable doubts of rape having been committed by the accused, Bhansingh, on the prosecutrix-Bhanwari; the learned counsel for the accused, in substance, prayed only for reduction of the sentence. 7. We are convinced that the finding of the trial court that accused, Bhansingh, is guilty of an offence under Section 376, I.P.C. for committing sexual intercourse with a minor girl of 7/8 year; is fully justified on facts, and admits of no doubt. 8. P.W. 14 Dr. Ram Swaroop Jaju, the Medical Jurist unfolds the severity of the rape committed on this small girl of hardly 8 years of age. The under-wear of the girl was full of blood and blood stains were found on the frock and Odhani also. The lower front portion of the frock was full of blood. The upper thighs were also having clotted black blood. She was feeling terrible pain when her thighs were separated for medical examination. The private parts of the girl were swell on and red and there was a fear in the human vegina. The Chemical Examiners Report Ex-p. 15 and Serologists Report Ex-P. 16 confirmed that forcible sexual intercourse was committed with this small girl. The girl was weeping when she was brought to the doctor. According to the Medical Jurist, girl was terribly frightened. The Odhani was having blood spots at many places. 9. The Chemical Examiners Report Ex-p. 15 and Serologists Report Ex-P. 16 confirmed that forcible sexual intercourse was committed with this small girl. The girl was weeping when she was brought to the doctor. According to the Medical Jurist, girl was terribly frightened. The Odhani was having blood spots at many places. 9. The above medical examination and the statement of the Medical Jurist supported by the report of the serotogist goes to Show that the present and was a case of most heinous type of barbaric rape on a helpless girl of 7/8 years of age by a fully developed youth of 19 years. The fact that the girl became unconscious at the time of rape only shows that how inhuman barbaric and ruthless crime was committed by the accused, who mad with Ogery and lust of sex. 10. As already mentioned above, in the appeal, the learned counsel for the appellant has most concentrated on the question of sentence and appealed to the court to release the accused on the sentence already undergone. 11. Learned Public Prosecutor, on the contrary, has submitted that it is one of the most ghastly, barbaric spacus of rape where helpless Harijan girl of about 7-8 years has been made a victim and such anti-social offences should be dealt with seriously and the maximum sentence should be awarded. 12. According to the law, under Section 376 LP C. the maximum sentence is Life Imprisonment and the Court is free to award any sentence upto 10 years rigorous imprisonment also depending upon the facts and circumstances of the case. 13. In Ram Khiler vs. State (1) the sentence of 7 years rigorous imprisonment was awarded when rape was committed on Mst. Primi, a girl of 7 years. The plea that the accused was an old man of 60 years was found to be insufficient to reduce the sentence and the court was of the opinion that the sentence was not excessive. 14. In Raffiq vs. State of UP (2) their Lordships of the Supreme Court of India have held as under— "Draupadi, a middle aged Bal Sewika in a village welfare organisation, was sleeping in a girls school where she was allegedly raped by Raffiq, the petitioner, and three others. 14. In Raffiq vs. State of UP (2) their Lordships of the Supreme Court of India have held as under— "Draupadi, a middle aged Bal Sewika in a village welfare organisation, was sleeping in a girls school where she was allegedly raped by Raffiq, the petitioner, and three others. The offence took place around 2.30 am on August 22/23, 1971 and the next morning the victim related the incident to the Mukhya Sewika of the village. A report was made to the Police Station on Aug. 23, 1971 at midday. The investigation that followed resulted in a charge sheet, a trial and eventually, in a conviction based substantially on the testimony of the victim. Although some of the witness tall tale fashion, shifted their loyalties and betrayed the prosecution case, the trial court entered a finding of guilt against the appellant, giving the benefit of doubt to the other three obscurely. A year sentence of rigorous imprisonment was awarded as justly merited, having regard to the circumstances. The appeal carried to the High Court proved unsuccessful bur, undaunted, the petitioner has sought leave to appeal to this Court...... "Counsel submitted that a 7 year sentence was to severe. No, because, as we have stated earlier, rape for a woman is deathless shame and must be dealt with as the gravest crime against human dignity. No interference on the scope of culpability or quantum of punishment is called for in the circumstances". 15. Krishnna Iyear J., who otherwise is known for his plea of reformative jurisprudence in criminal cases and has pleaced for abolition of capital sentence, could not resist the severe condemnation of the offence of rape and observed as under :- "The acclamation of such crimes has reached proportions to a degree that expenses the pretensions of the nations spiritual leadership and celluloid censorship, puts to shame our ancient cultural heritage and humans claims and betrays a vulgar masculine outrage of human rights of which womans personal dignity is sacred component". 16. Krishnna Iyer J. categorised it as one of the most barbaric crime and observed as under:- The case before us occurred in 1971 and is drawn to a close in 1980. What a pity? Now there is considerable public and parliamentary attention to the violent frequency of rape cases. 16. Krishnna Iyer J. categorised it as one of the most barbaric crime and observed as under:- The case before us occurred in 1971 and is drawn to a close in 1980. What a pity? Now there is considerable public and parliamentary attention to the violent frequency of rape cases. It is time that the court reminds the nation that deterrence comes more effectively from quick investigations, prompt prosecutions and urgent finality, including special rules of evidence and specialised agencies for trial. 17. It would be thus seen that the Apex Court of this country has treated the offence of rape as the gravest crime against human dignity. If it has been turned as a deathless shame for a woman, how much shamful it is when the offence is committed on a tiny girl of 7-8 years of age. Which may, in some cases, result in her death also. According to the present case, the girl became un-cons cous and the rapist was so mad in his sex-lust,that even pool of blood coming out of the vagina the private part, could not persuade him to leave the girl. 18. Mr. Purohit invited our attention to Shivji Ram vs. State of Rajasthan (3), where a child rapist of 15 years was sentenced to 2 years rigorous imprisonment. In Shivji Rams case (supra) in para Nos. 8, 9 and 10, this court has discussed how the courts have taken a lenient view for sentence even in a rape case where the rapist is a child. 19. However, it would be seen that in Aidan vs. State of Rajasthan (4) this Court made the following observations:- "The offence in this case has been committed in a high handed manner and the false plea raised by the accused that Most Jadav (prosecutrix) was his married wife has aggravated it further. Where a prisoner is convicted of an outrageous rape, or abrote and unprovoked assult involving grave injuries by lathal weapon to the Government servant on duty or an armed robbery or the Bank of grave extensive loos to public property or an economic offence such as adulteration of food, medicine, or smuggling of gold, in such cases law abiding citizens look to the courts to relalists on behalf of the community. They expect that criminals who prays on the community or violate its fundamental values or, by their aggressive and rapacious conduct, imperil the average citizens sense of security and confidence in law and order, should be made themselves to suffer in requital for the harm they have done to others". 20. It should be noted that in Shivji Rams case the whole discussion is about the application of Children Act, as the accused was near about 15 years of age. In view of the special circumstances of the case that the accused was a child, the sentence was reduced. However, it was made clear that this should not be taken as a general precedent for leniency in rape cases. In para 21 of Shivji Rams case it was observed as under:- "Taking all the facts and circumstances of the case without respecting them again, as the same have been mentioned in the earlier part of the judgement I am of the opinion that the ends of justice would be met, in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case. If sentence is reduced from five years to two years and the fine of Rs. 50/- is sustained. The reduction is primarily due to peculiar features of this case and should not be taken as a general; precedent for leniency in rape cases. I have always taken the view that except exceptional cases, punishment in rape cases should be severe and but for the tender age sentence of 5 years cannot be termed excessive". 21. The crucial and important question before this court is whether the sentence of 5 years awarded by the Court should be enhanced or reduced or maintained. 22. In Raffiqs case (supra) the girl was middle aged and working as Balsevika, Field Welfare Organisation and yet the sentence of 7 years was not reduced nor treated as too severe. In the instant case, there is additional aggravating circumstances against the accused. The girl of 7-8 years only and further she belongs to Harijan segment of the society, which is treated as weaker section of the society. Should the court allow girls and women of weaker section of society as chatteeles or second class citizens, who can be easily made victims of satisfying sexual lust of the affluent and traditionally privileged section of the society. Should the court allow girls and women of weaker section of society as chatteeles or second class citizens, who can be easily made victims of satisfying sexual lust of the affluent and traditionally privileged section of the society. In our opinion the barbaric offence of rape on a tiny aged girl of 7-8 years and that too belonging to weaker section being a Harijan, assumes much more seriousness and is extremely heinous. The non-acceptance by community of Harijans as untouchable and treating them as undignified weaker section, available for mass rapes or rapes of tiny kinds is hair raising, and alarming and the increase in such anti-social and inhuman crimes deserve explanary deterrent punishments. So shocked is the humanity, can be judged from the fact that former Chief Justice of India, Shri Hidayatullah Vice President of India pleaded for public whipping and flogging for such criminals who are shance and stigma on the society. Another former Chief Justice Honble K.N. Wanchoo awarded sentence of 10 stripes in Bal Mukan vs. State (5) for rapist of women in Rajasthan case when Whipping Act was in force. Abolition of Whipping Act, has encouraged such crimes and there is heed for rethinking for it. 23. We are firmly of the opinion that these circumstances aggravate the offence and warrants maximum punishment so that society knows it that such criminals cannot play with the life, dignity, shastity of weaker sex and that too from weaker section of the society which makes it a offence of tribble severity. 24. We are therefore, convinced that the present one is a case where severe sentence of imprisonment should have been awarded, making it examp-lary and deterrent. 25. Mr. Purohit pleaded for leniency on the ground that the accused was of 19 years of age. In our opinion age of 19 years cannot be treated as an age where a youth is ignorant of the implication of his crime and the serious consequences of heinous crime, which is committing not only against the poor Harijan tiny girl but against the entire society. 26. We are, therefore not inclined to take a liberal view in the matter of sentence as was done in Shivji Rams case, where the body was of 13 to 15 years only. Even then we feel that maximum sentence of life imprisonment need not be awarded as the accused is of 19 years of age. 26. We are, therefore not inclined to take a liberal view in the matter of sentence as was done in Shivji Rams case, where the body was of 13 to 15 years only. Even then we feel that maximum sentence of life imprisonment need not be awarded as the accused is of 19 years of age. If the accused would have been between the age ground of 25 to 50 years, we would not have hesitated in giving maximum sentence. 27. In Baldeo vs. State of Rajasthan (6) a girl of tender age was victim of raps and the sentence of 10 years was reduced to 7 years rigorous imprisonment. Learned Judge did realise that offence of this nature is very severe and it was undoubtedly, true that the sentences must be severe, because of violence upon the girls of very tender age should be severally dealt with. However, in the peculiar facts and circumstances of that case, it was held that the sentence will be reduced to 7 years rigorous imprisonment and it would not the ends of justice. 28. A notice to show cause why the sentences should not be enhanced was given to the accused at the time of admission of this appeal. We have discussed above that the facts and circumstances of the case warrants that severe sentence should be imposed. Normally, we would have enhanced the sentence. But, we find that the offence was committed in January, 1980 and at the time of the commission of the offence, the accused too was of 18 years of age. We are, therefore, of the view that as the sentence of 5 years has already been imposed by the trial court it would not be in the interest of justice to enhance it now at this stage, as it cannot be termed as grossly inadequate. 29. The notice of enhancement is, therefore, discharged and the sentence already imposed by the trial court is confirmed. Appeal filed by Bhansingh consequently fails and is, hereby dismissed so also the appeal for enhancement of sentence is dismissed.