An Indian judge’s emotional letter to a 10-year-old child sexual abuse survivor has drawn widespread attention after she praised the girl’s courage and assured her that the man convicted of abusing her would remain behind bars for the rest of his life.
Trial court Judge Rajani Ranga addressed the survivor as “Dear child” and described her as one of the bravest children to have appeared before the court.
The girl was seven years old when she was sexually assaulted on July 23, 2023.
The court sentenced the convicted man to life imprisonment, specifying that he must remain incarcerated for the rest of his natural life. The survivor was also awarded compensation of 1.05 million rupees.
At the end of her judgment, Ranga departed from formal legal language to speak directly to the child, explaining that she wanted to acknowledge the girl’s voice and courage.
During the case, the child had asked that the man she referred to as “uncle” remain in prison until he became old.
Ranga told her that the court had heard that request and imposed a sentence ensuring that he would not be released.
Judge praises survivor for speaking out
In her letter, Ranga commended the girl for appearing in court, identifying the man who assaulted her and telling the truth about what happened.
The judge emphasized that the child had spoken to her mother about the abuse rather than remaining silent and told her that her decision to speak out had helped prevent the convicted man from harming other children.
Ranga also acknowledged that a court ruling could not undo the trauma the girl had experienced or restore the childhood that had been affected by the assault.
She encouraged the child to move forward with her life, attend school, build friendships, play and pursue her dreams, while assuring her that the court would remember her courage.
Letter emerges through High Court ruling
Ranga’s letter formed part of a trial court order issued on July 11.
Judgments involving child sexual abuse cases heard under India’s Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, commonly known as POCSO, are generally handled with strict protections surrounding the identities of survivors.
The letter subsequently became public after it was reproduced in a Delhi High Court order rejecting the convicted man’s request for bail and suspension of his sentence.
The High Court identified the adult convict but did not disclose information that could identify the child.
The judges described Ranga’s letter as a message of encouragement and directed the Delhi State Legal Services Authority to provide the survivor with a printed copy along with her compensation.
Case highlights wider child abuse problem
The letter has since been widely shared on Indian social media, where many users praised the judge’s approach and expressed support for the survivor.
The case has also renewed attention on the scale of child sexual abuse in India.
More than 69,000 cases under the POCSO Act were recorded across the country in 2024, according to government crime statistics.
Child protection advocates have warned that official figures may not capture the full extent of the problem because many cases go unreported, particularly when alleged perpetrators are relatives, caregivers or other people known and trusted by children.
Survivors can experience lasting psychological, social and emotional effects from childhood sexual abuse.
Ranga addressed that long-term impact in her judgment, saying the sentence and compensation took into account the seriousness of the crime, the child’s suffering and the potential lifelong consequences of the abuse.
She described the court’s order as an effort not only to punish the offender but also to help the survivor heal and rebuild her life.
