Now Reading: Kissing minor on lips can be sexual assault under POCSO: Delhi HC
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Kissing minor on lips can be sexual assault under POCSO: Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court has ruled that kissing a minor on the lips can constitute sexual assault under Section 7 of the POCSO Act if sexual intent is established, even if no touching of private parts occurs. Justice Madhu Jain made the observation while dismissing an appeal by Suraj Singh against his conviction for sexually assaulting his six-year-old neighbour in April 2020.
The trial court on 13 April 2026 convicted him under Section 354 IPC and Section 10 POCSO, sentencing him on 20 April to five years' rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 5,000 fine. The High Court upheld the conviction, finding the child's testimony consistent and noting that minor variations in describing body parts were not material contradictions given her age. The court also held that a child witness's testimony alone can sustain a conviction if it inspires confidence.
The judgment in Suraj Singh @ Laala v. State NCT of Delhi (2026:DHC:9071) was delivered on 14 October 2026. The court directed a copy of the judgment be sent to the trial court.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both lawbeat.in and verdictum.in report the same Delhi High Court judgment with virtually identical facts, quotes and case details. lawbeat.in structures its report as a chronological legal explainer, leading with the legal principle and then the case background. verdictum.in opens with the same principle but adds the full bench observation, the appellant's arguments, and the exact cause title and appearances. Neither outlet adopts any political or ideological slant: the coverage is uniform, straight court reporting. The key takeaway is that the court has clarified that kissing a minor on the lips can amount to sexual assault under Section 7 POCSO if sexual intent is proved, and that a child victim's testimony can sustain a conviction without corroboration if it is consistent. The judgment was delivered on 14 October 2026, dismissing the appeal against the trial court's conviction order of 13 April 2026.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): lawbeat.in (neutral report), verdictum.in (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
