New Delhi: Observing that sexual harassment violates the rights of women—particularly minor girls—to live with dignity, a Delhi court has sentenced a 28-year-old man to one year of rigorous imprisonment for harassing a teenage girl. Additional sessions judge Neeti Suri Mishra, while pronouncing the sentence on Sept 9, noted that due to the actions of individuals like the accused, it has become unsafe for minor children to step out alone. The man was convicted under Section 12 (sexual harassment) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act for harassing a 16-year-old girl. Special public prosecutor Yogita Kaushik Dahiya urged the court to impose the maximum sentence, stating that the accused did not deserve any leniency for his “abominable and reprehensible” actions, which left the girl “traumatised and humiliated”. The man, who worked as a barber, reportedly made obscene gestures and behaved inappropriately with the minor. In addition to the jail term, the court also ordered the payment of Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the child.
