Taking a grim view of the increasing rape cases in the country, the Supreme Court has ruled that testimony of the victim, if convincing, is sufficient to convict an accused even if there is no medical evidence to support the charge.

“In a given case even if the doctor who examines a victim does not find any sign of rape, it is no ground to disbelieve the sole testimony of the prosecutrix (rape victim),” a bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and P Sathasivam observed in a judgment.

The apex court reasoned that credible testimony of the victim is sufficient for the courts as, in normal course, a victim of sexual assault does not like to disclose such offence even before her family members, much less before public or before the police.

“Indian women has a tendency to conceal such offence because it involves her prestige as well as prestige of her family. Only in few cases, the victim or her family members have the courage to go to a police station and lodge a case,” the bench said.