New Delhi: “Now beta, live your life, go to school, make friends, laugh, play, dream. This Court will always remember your courage.”Upholding the life sentence of a rape convict, Delhi High Court has directed District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), North West Delhi, to print the message of “encouragement” — penned by a sessions judge earlier this year — and hand it over to the 10-year-old survivor.The bench of Justices Pratibha M Singh and Dinesh Bhatt, who appreciated the post script written by Additional Sessions Judge Rajani Ranga of the Rohini court complex, in the Sept 22 order, also directed compensation of Rs 10.5 lakh to be awarded to the child’s family.The direction came while HC was hearing an appeal filed by convict Sumit Shakya against his life sentence in a case registered at Budh Vihar police station, under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code, dealing with crimes of rape of underaged female and criminal intimidation, and offence of aggravated penetrative sexual assault under the Pocso Act. The court dismissed Shakya’s plea after considering the evidence on record, including forensic evidence.The incident dates back to July 23, 2023, when the child, then aged seven, was raped by Shakya. The trial court convicted him in May this year and sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life.In the July 2026 sentencing order, Judge Ranga departed from the formal language of a judgment to directly address the child, expressing admiration for her courage in coming forward, telling her mother what had happened and accompanying her to court.“Before parting, this Court must address the child victim – not in the formal language of a judgment but as a judge who has heard her voice, who has read her words, and who has been moved by her courage,” said Judge Ranga.Judge Ranga then recalled the child’s plea that the man she called “uncle” should remain in jail until he grew old.“Beta, this Court heard you. When you said ‘Jab tak uncle buddhe na ho jaaye, tab tak unhe jail mein hi rakha jaaye’, this Court listened. And this Court has answered your plea,” the court recorded.“Today, this Court has ordered that the man you called ‘uncle’ will never walk free again. He will live in a cage for the rest of his life. He will grow old in that cage. He will die in that cage. He will never be able to hurt you, or your little sister, or any other child, ever again,” Judge Ranga added.“You are the bravest little girl this Court has ever seen. You came to Court, you pointed at the man who hurt you, and you told the truth. The man you called ‘uncle’ did a very bad thing to you. But you did not stay quiet You told your mother. And because you had the courage to speak, he will never be able to hurt another child again,” the order continued.Reflecting on the child’s circumstances, the court further recorded: “This Court cannot give you back your childhood. But Court can promise you that your words have been heard. Your plea has been granted. The man who hurt you will never see the sun as a free man again.”Finally, addressing the child, Judge Ranga wrote: “Now, beta, live your life. Go to school. Make friends. Laugh. Play. Dream. This Court will always remember your courage.”DLSA has now been given two weeks to comply with the court’s direction and file a status report on the compensation for the family.