The 'ideal victim' concept, as discussed in recent judicial discourse, refers to which of the following?

A cultural archetype where a victim is only believed if they exhibit absolute vulnerability and total passivity.

A victim who provides irrefutable forensic evidence in all criminal cases.

A legal standard requiring the victim to be a witness to the crime in a public space.

A mandatory requirement for victims to report crimes within 24 hours to be considered credible.

Daily

250 words

6/10
Rating

7 August 2026

Conviction of Tarun Tejpal

The judgment is highly relevant as it addresses critical legal and societal issues regarding the 'ideal victim' archetype and the protection of complainants in sexual assault cases, which are central to the study of laws for vulnerable sections.

Notes

The Bombay High Court convicted Tarun Tejpal for a 2013 sexual assault case, setting aside a 2021 trial court acquittal.
The High Court sentenced the accused to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh under Section 376(2)(f) of the IPC.
The court criticized the trial court's reliance on the 'ideal victim' or 'perfect victim' archetype, which assumes victims must exhibit total passivity and innocence to be credible.
The High Court noted that the trial court failed to prevent the harassment and humiliation of the complainant during cross-examination.
The judgment emphasized that sexual assault complainants should not be judged based on stereotypical behavior or societal expectations of how a victim 'should' act.
The conviction was based on Sections 376(2)(f), 376(2)(k), 354A, and 354B of the Indian Penal Code.

Part of a longer story

This is day 2 of 3 in Tarun Tejpal sexual assault case, which has been running since 31 July 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

Critically analyze the 'ideal victim' archetype in the context of judicial proceedings and its impact on the credibility of complainants in sexual assault cases. 150 words

Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min

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The judiciary plays a pivotal role in ensuring gender justice by preventing the secondary victimization of complainants during trial. Discuss the challenges faced by the criminal justice system in balancing the rights of the accused with the protection of victims during cross-examination. 250 words

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Prelims

The 'ideal victim' concept, as discussed in recent judicial discourse, refers to which of the following?

Syllabus

Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections GS2

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-08-07/conviction-of-tarun-tejpal