Conviction of rape cannot be solely on the basis of testimony of prosecutrix, unless of "sterling" quality, rules SC

The Supreme Court has ruled that the conviction of rape accused cannot be done solely on the basis of the testimony of the Prosecutrix unless her testimony is of "sterling quality".

New Delhi: The Supreme Court in a judgement has held that an accused in a rape case cannot be convicted solely on the premise of the testimony of the Prosecutrix, unless the testimony is of "sterling" quality.

The judgement delivered by a Bench comprising of Jusctice Ashok Bhushan and Justice MR Shah has held that in order to convict an accused in a rape case solely on the basis of solitary evidence of the prosecutrix, the evidence must be absolutely trustworthy, faultless and of sterling quality.

The apex court has reiterated its statement that the "sterling witness" has be of a very high quality, in that her version should be unquestionable and the court should be able to able to accept it at its face value without any doubt.