'He will never walk free': Indian judge's letter promises child sex abuse survivor

What the report says

An Indian trial judge’s letter to a child sexual abuse survivor is drawing wide attention after being reproduced in a Delhi High Court order, according to the BBC. The letter was written by Judge Rajani Ranga in connection with a case involving a girl who was abused in July 2023, when she was seven, and later testified in court.

In the ruling, the trial court sentenced the convicted man to life in prison, saying he would remain incarcerated for the rest of his natural life. The court also ordered compensation of 1.05 million rupees for the survivor. The judge’s letter praised the child’s courage, described her as the bravest little girl the court had seen, and told her that her abuser would never be free again.

The BBC reports that the letter was not originally public because special POCSO courts in India keep such judgments confidential to protect victims’ identities. It came to light after the Delhi High Court cited it while rejecting the man’s appeal for bail and suspension of sentence, and directed legal authorities to provide the child with a copy alongside the compensation.

The story has resonated widely in India, where child sexual abuse remains a major concern. The BBC notes that official data recorded more than 69,000 POCSO cases in 2024, underscoring why the judge’s unusual message has been seen as both a rare gesture of support and a reminder of the scale of the problem.