STATE OF PUNJAB vs JOGINDER SINGH — Crl.A. No. 1038/2003

Summary: State of Punjab v. Joginder Singh (Crl.A. 1038/2003) The Supreme Court dismissed the State's appeal on 16 September 2008, upholding the Punjab and Haryana High Court's judgment. The High Court had altered Joginder Singh's conviction from rape (Section 376 IPC) to criminal assault (Section 354 IPC), citing critical evidentiary gaps including unexplained delay in the victim's medical examination, inconsistent statements from the victim across different times, and the victim's mother's categorical denial that rape occurred. The Court found no infirmity warranting interference with the High Court's modified sentence of two years' rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 2,000 fine. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.