Kolar judge scores a ton in Pocso convictions

KOLAR: A district and sessions judge in Kolar created a record of sorts on Wednesday, pronouncing her 100th verdict under provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in about two and a half years.
In the 100th conviction, second additional district and sessions judge BS Rekha, 50, awarded seven years’ rigorous imprisonment to Anand from Hanumanthapura village, Kolar taluk, for kidnapping and raping a minor girl on December 22.He was fined Rs 10,000.
Judge Rekha has been able to prevail upon advocates to stick to the schedule and carrying the cases to their logical conclusion, Muniswamy Gowda, special public prosecutor who appeared for the state in all 100 cases, told TOI.
Advocate V Sreedhararmuthy said the judge treats every case on merit and doesn’t allow hypothetical questions to be raised during the proceedings. “Her systematic style of working ensures there is no scope for delay,” he added.
Another advocate, C Kondappa, said the judge is very helpful in ensuring advocates make their presentations with precision.
Coming from a family of advocates based in Tumakuru, Judge Rekha decided to pursue a legal career and became a district judge after passing judicial services examinations. She said in most Pocso cases, the accused commit the crime under the influence of alcohol.
She had earlier made headlines when she sent five people to the gallows in two separate cases on one single day. She had awarded death penalty to Ranjith Kumar for attempting to rape and murdering a class 10 girl when she was returning home on August 1, 2019. The judge pronounced her verdict on September 15, 2019, with the framing of charges, remanding and court proceedings being completed in record 45 days, recalled Gowda. The same day, the judge had awarded death sentences to another four people accused of gang-raping a minor girl in Masthi police limits.