LANDMARK CASE

Tukaram v. State of Maharashtra (Mathura case)

(1979) 2 SCC 143 · Supreme Court of India · Criminal law

At a glance

Citation: (1979) 2 SCC 143
Court: Supreme Court of India
Area of law: Criminal law
In one line: The Court acquitted the accused, finding no proof of resistance.

1 Facts

A young tribal girl was raped by policemen in a police station. The accused were acquitted on the ground of supposed consent.

2 Issue

Was there consent?

3 What the court decided

The Court acquitted the accused, finding no proof of resistance.

4 Why it matters

Public outcry led to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983, including custodial rape provisions and presumptions.

5 Think about it

How did this judgment change Indian rape law?

6 Analyse it yourself

Read the full judgment from an official source or a law database, then brief it in seven steps: facts, issues, arguments, decision, ratio, obiter and significance. Always check the citation before you rely on it.

7 More cases on Criminal law

Abhayanand Mishra v. State of Bihar AIR 1961 SC 1698
Amish Devgan v. Union of India (2021) 1 SCC 1
Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980) 2 SCC 684
Balwant Singh v. State of Punjab (1995) 3 SCC 214
Barendra Kumar Ghosh v. Emperor AIR 1925 PC 1
Basdev v. State of PEPSU AIR 1956 SC 488

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A short teaching summary for students. Educational content only, not legal advice.