HC upholds 10-year jail for teacher-warden

Justice Juvvadi Sridevi of the Telangana High Court upheld the conviction and ten-year rigorous imprisonment imposed on a teacher-cum-warden for attempting to rape two minor girls at a residential educational institution. The judge dismissed a criminal appeal filed by Ankenalapally Bala Obul Reddy challenging the judgment of the Special Sessions Court, Rangareddy District. The prosecution alleged that the accused was employed at a Residential Bridge Course run by SWARE Society at Moula-Ali, where he was responsible for teaching children during the day and supervising them at other times in his capacity as warden.

Taking advantage of his supervisory position, he allegedly subjected two minor girls to sexual acts during the nights of December 5 and 6, 2009. The incidents came to light when the girls informed their mothers, following which a complaint was lodged with the police. Challenging the judgment, the accused contended that the medical evidence did not support the prosecution case, as neither victim had sustained external injuries, their hymens were intact, and the forensic examination did not disclose the presence of semen or spermatozoa.

He also questioned the delay in lodging the complaint and pointed to discrepancies in the testimony of one of the victims regarding her date of admission to the institution. The judge held that the delay in lodging the complaint and the discrepancy regarding the date of admission by victim were insufficient to discredit the prosecution case. Observing the testimony of victim,  supported by other prosecution witnesses, established the circumstances surrounding the incidents, the court found no grounds to interfere with the judgment of the trial court.