The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court acquitted a man previously sentenced to eight years in prison for rape, stating that the relationship was consensual. Justice Sanjay Dhar noted that the prosecution failed to establish the survivor's minority beyond a reasonable doubt, emphasizing that they were in a love affair while studying at the same school. The court observed that even if the survivor was under 18 years of age, convicting the petitioner would be unjust given the circumstances. The case originated from a 2018 report alleging that the petitioner had kidnapped the survivor, leading to accusations of sexual intercourse and subsequent pregnancy. However, the court found that the evidence presented did not convincingly prove the survivor's age, particularly criticizing the reliance on school records as conclusive proof. The ruling underscores the necessity of establishing consent and the burden of proof on the prosecution in such cases.