Monday January 17, 2011, 6:48 am
This is outrageous...doctors' comments carry more "weight" than hers?

Monday January 17, 2011, 11:38 am
She was raped, her age shouldn't be of importance. Do these people think that to be raped after 18 is not a crime? A victim of rape is a victim of rape, it doen't matter how old she is!

Monday January 17, 2011, 11:42 am
how awful

Monday January 17, 2011, 11:52 am
I absolutely agree with Alejandra V."s statement. In addition, isn't it pathetic this girl has no documentation to prove her age, nor can the state come up with a record of her birth? What a country.

Monday January 17, 2011, 12:49 pm
Absolutely terrifying.
Rape is rape whatever gender or age you are. This is pathetic.
So this disgusting rapist could get off easier just because she was born a couple of months earlier? Despicable.

Monday January 17, 2011, 1:13 pm
It does not matter if she is 17 or 97, if a woman says NO then it is Rape!

Monday January 17, 2011, 2:03 pm
how awful, rape is rape no matter her age.

Monday January 17, 2011, 2:55 pm
oh, he can get less time because the victim was younger and the rape("sexual contact") was less enjoyable to him? There are young 6 year old girls (called "prostitutes") being raped ("paid for") in (prisons) "brothels" in the East!!!
and it's not just their own countrymen doing this to them, but European and American tourists!!
Rape is heinous, and especially when it is little children!

Monday January 17, 2011, 3:04 pm
Noted.The reason for her age importance might very well be because she is an adult,and they need to determine if she really was a rape victim,or a willing partner.As she is competent enough to make her own decisions.

Monday January 17, 2011, 4:07 pm
Rape is sexual assault. If it is rape (I insist) there IS a victim, and not a willing partner.

Monday January 17, 2011, 4:50 pm
The poor victim is being victimized again, while the rapist is most likely free.

Monday January 17, 2011, 8:53 pm
Let's be clear, here. Either, a female at the age of 18, is a minor or not.
That is the question. That decision should have been decided prior to this incident.

One cannot make a definitive decision, if and until this question is answered.

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 12:14 am
Even though I can understand why the authorities would want to check whether this woman was a minor or not - if it is to see whether he raped an adult or a minor, I agree with some of the comments below: rape is rape. If the victim was unwilling, if she said no and the other party nonetheless proceeded... It is rape, regardless of age!

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 12:35 am
I KNOW IN TH USA THE CHILD MOLESTATION LAW IS THE RAPIST WILL RECEIVE 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON AND HAVE AN ANKLE BRACELET IF EVER RELEASED, SO THAT IS WHERE THE AGE WOULD COME IN BECAUSE A RAPIST WHO RAPES AN ADULT CAN GET AS LITTLE AS 10 YEARS IN PRISON. SO IF THIS VICTIM IS A 17 YEAR OLD THAN MOST LIKELY HE WILL GET A HARDER SENTENCE. BUT AS NOTED RAPE IS RAPE AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO DO WITH IF SHE WAS ABLE TO SAY "NO" OR NOT.

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 12:44 am
I hope the truth be told & the highest good happens for her

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 2:28 am
The first question that should be addressed is was this girl raped? The impartiality of a Court should be where this case should be tried, not in the public arena where emotions run high and logic is not always welcome.
Even if this should it be unproven as rape, then sex with a minor should be the next question and the next step.
You either abide by the rule of law or you have chaos..

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 3:06 am
A agree with Valjean and the correct age will determine severity of sentence if rape is proven.

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 9:38 am
I hope very much that true justice will prevail.

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 12:56 pm
Rape is rape the sentence should be the same whether the victim is a minor or not.

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 1:29 pm
What has her age has to do with it?

Rape should be heavily punished, regardless the age.

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 2:13 pm
What ridiculous red tape!

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 4:52 pm
A SINGLE BULLET TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD,

FOR ANYONE THAT RAPE,S

Tuesday January 18, 2011, 7:54 pm
This site is worth visiting:
http://www.stopblame.org/en/

Wednesday January 19, 2011, 9:47 am
The rulings of this local court in Uttar Pradesh are incomprensible to us, who all agree that rape is rape and should be severely punished..I fervently hope that more and more young Indians will put all their efforts towards changing rulings and ways of thinking like these.

Wednesday January 19, 2011, 10:02 am
I hope that Indians raise their voices against this. Rape is rape, no matter the age.

Wednesday January 19, 2011, 11:16 am
Rape is an obscene and violent crime regardless of the age of the victim. This proceding transcends outrageous and the victim will, almost certainly be victimized by the gender-centric society in which she lives. That the rapist is an adult in a position of politial power should certainly constitute aggravating circumstances sufficient to warrant the highest level of punishment.

Friday January 21, 2011, 4:22 pm
I understand that there are different levels of punishment for the rape of a "minor" and the rape of an "adult", but it truly is insane that the girl's statement of her age is not good enough. Sounds like this is a case of the court proceedings being just as bad as the crime.

Saturday January 22, 2011, 8:30 am
Rape is Rape. Her age should be irrelevant.