Chhattisgarh High Court Validates Testimony via Sign Language Interpreter

Court Upholds Conviction in Sexual Assault Case

The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that statements recorded with the assistance of a sign language interpreter are legally valid for convicting an accused. This decision was made while upholding a life sentence for a man found guilty of sexually assaulting a physically capable woman. A two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agarwal, dismissed the accused's appeal, affirming the lower court's ruling from March 2023. The High Court noted that the lower court took appropriate measures to facilitate the victim's testimony. When the victim faced difficulties understanding certain questions, the court utilized a plastic doll for explanations and allowed an interpreter to assist her.

The judges confirmed that this method did not diminish the significance of the victim's testimony; rather, it aided her in expressing her account more clearly and accurately. The court emphasized that a person's inability to hear or speak does not invalidate their testimony, and statements made with the help of a sign language interpreter can serve as a basis for conviction. Furthermore, the court found no evidence suggesting that the victim was incapable of understanding or describing the incident due to any mental disability. Additionally, it was noted that the victim's gestures and statements were consistent with her earlier reports to the police, where she identified her brother-in-law as the accused.