CRIMINAL LAW ROUNDUP: A quick recap of the top criminal cases from March 2025
Top criminal cases on quashing of proceedings, arrest, bail, acquittal, and more.
sexual harassment
Commenting on colleague’s hair that she must be using JCB to manage them, not sexual harassment; Bombay HC sets aside Industrial Court’s order
The Internal Complaints Committee of HDFC Sales (P) Ltd. did not consider the important issue that whether the allegations levelled against the petitioner in really constituted sexual harassment to the complainant.
‘Victim sensed a bad touch, so her instinct must be believed’; Bombay HC upholds former Army Officer’s sentence under POCSO Act
The victim’s testimony in sexual assault cases is vital and unless there are compelling reasons which necessitates looking for corroboration of her statement, the courts shall find no difficulty to act on the testimony of a victim of sexual assault alone to convict an accused where her testimony inspires confidence and is found to be reliable.
Appellate Authority can consider interim application seeking stay despite absence of any specific provision in POSH Act: Karnataka HC
Court explained that POSH Act does not expressly prohibit the Appellate Authority to pass an interim order and once the appellate authority has the power to set aside impugned proceedings, it can be construed that the appellate authority also has implied power to consider passing of interim order of stay as well.
[S. 482 CrPC] Compromise between parties cannot be sole basis to quash proceedings/ FIR in sexual harassment cases, they affect society: SC
Before exercising the power under Section 482 of CrPC, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime besides observing and holding that heinous and serious offences could not be quashed even though a victim or victim’s family and the offender had settled.
‘Hugging or kissing between teenagers in love is natural’, Madras HC quashes case against 21-year-old boy accused of sexual harassment
Madras High Court clarified that to constitute an offence under Section 354-A(1)(i) of IPC, the accused must make unwelcome physical contact and advances, specifically involving explicit sexual overtures.
Having sexual intercourse, being naked in front of minor amounts to sexual harassment, punishable under POCSO Act: Kerala High Court
Kerala High Court noted that accused 2 had abused and thrashed the minor victim and concluded that the offense falls under Section 323 of IPC in conjunction with Section 34 IPC.
Kerala High Court refuses to quash case against priest accused of rape on pretext of marriage
Kerala High Court said that there was no undue delay in filing the FIR, as the relationship was predicated on the promise of marriage
Karnataka HC directs ANI Technologies to pay Rs 5 Lakhs as compensation to woman sexually harassed by OLA cab driver in 2018
The Court directed the company’s Internal Complaints Committee to hold an enquiry into the complaint of the petitioner in accordance with the provisions of PoSH Act, 2013 and complete the process as expeditiously as possible within an outer limit of 90 days.
Karnataka HC refuses to quash POCSO case against Drawing Teacher for allegedly taking photos/videos of minor girls changing dresses
The Court strictly observed that the offence against the petitioner is a shade more than horrendous. “More than horrendous, I say, for the reason that the petitioner is a teacher (…) If this cannot become a crime, it is not understandable as to what else can be”.
‘Offence under S. 354A of IPC is gender specific and only a man can be prosecuted under the same’; Calcutta HC quashes sexual harassment case against female accused
It was said that since all sub-sections of Section 354A of IPC start with the words ‘a man’, a female accused would not be covered under this Section.
Calcutta High Court sets aside Local Committee’s rejection of WBNUJS Associate Professor’s Sexual Harassment Complaint on limitation grounds
The question of limitation is a mixed question of law and fact and, therefore, the issue of limitation could not have been decided by the local committee at the threshold stage without evidence.
[Sexual Harassment] Accused being a police personnel cannot be a ground to presume that witnesses will not depose against him: Delhi HC upholds setting aside of dismissal order
The Court stated that only because respondent is police personnel, it cannot be a ground to hold him guilty without conducting the statutorily prescribed departmental enquiry and that too in a matter, where the complainant and the witnesses are also police personnel.
‘File affidavit on Internal Complaints Committee’s mechanism ensuring no manual intervention or pressure’: Gujarat HC to GNLU in sexual harassment case
GNLU was directed to disclose the measures taken by the ICC to ensure that the complaints lodged before the Committee reach them without any manual intervention or external pressure.
Delhi High Court quashes FIR registered u/s 12 of POCSO Act against man suffering from Psychosis with Borderline Intellectual Ability
“The medical board has opined that the petitioner required regular medical care and supervision and the support of the family members for his compliance to the medical treatment.”
Sexual harassment victims under POCSO Act covered under Kerala Victim Compensation Scheme, 2017: Kerala High Court
Kerala High Court scrutinized the definition of ‘sexual assault’ and expressed that the same has to be construed as sexual offence against a victim, including sexual harassment.
[Sexual harassment over Facebook] Uttaranchal High Court directs accused to plant fifty trees as a condition to drop criminal proceeding against him
“Looking to the nature and gravity of the offences and owing to the close relationship between the accused and the complainant, the Uttaranchal High Court exercising its powers under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, quashed the FIR.”
Delay of nine months in lodging of FIR by wife; Delhi High Court grants anticipatory bail to husband accused of rape, sexual harassment, cruelty
“During the said period of trial, there is no occasion for the applicant to keep him languishing behind the bars, as it would serve no purpose especially in view of the aforesaid and as it is a trite law that no person is presumed guilty until proven otherwise.”
Sexual Harassment| Teacher-student Relationship a ‘sacred one’; Delhi High Court upholds compulsory retirement of DU professor as punishment
Delhi High Court observed that what ultimately turned decisive was a voluntary acknowledgment by the appellant-professor of his acts of indiscretion in getting attracted by the charms of a young female student.
[POSH Act] Delhi Court directs costs of Rs 50,000 to Standard Chartered Bank for non-compliance of provisions by its Internal Complaints Committee
Delhi Court observed that it is crucial for Delhi Commission for Women to focus on substantive actions rather than superficial gestures just for the sake of publicity and bringing the name in newspaper or to find fault in the other institution when equal responsibility lies with them also.