minor age legal standard India

In the case of Birka Shiva vs The State of Telangana, the Supreme Court set aside the conviction of the appellant under Sections 376, 363, and 342 IPC, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the victim's age beyond reasonable doubt, and that the charges of rape, kidnapping, and wrongful confinement were not supported by credible evidence. The Court ruled that the absence of evidence corroborating the victim's age, coupled with voluntary cohabitation, negated the prosecution's claim of criminal acts. The judgment emphasizes the importance of strict evidentiary standards in criminal law and reaffirms that proof beyond reasonable doubt remains paramount.