1. The High Court has declined to suspend the substantive order of sentence of 20 years imposed by the Trial Court for the offence punishable under Sections 5(l) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for short, "the POCSO Act), respectively.

2. It appears from the materials on record that the petitioner at the relevant point of time was 19 years of age. He was put to trial for the offence punishable under Sections 363 and 366, respectively of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, "the IPC") and Sections 5(l) and 6 of the POCSO Act, respectively.

3. At the end of the trial, the Trial Court held the accused guilty of the alleged crime.

4. The maximum sentence that has been imposed by the Trial Court is 20 years, as noted above, with fine of Rs.50,000/-. The age of the victim at the relevant point of time was 17 years.

5. We heard Mr. Namit Saxena, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr. Puneet Parihar, the learned counsel appearing for the State.

6. Having regard to the nature of the evidence on record, we are persuaded to exercise our discretion in favour of the petitioner.

7. The substantive order of sentence passed by the Trial Court is hereby suspended, and the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail subject to terms and conditions as the Trial Court may deem fit to impose.

8. With the aforesaid, the Special Leave Petition stands disposed of.

9. Pending application(s), if any, stands disposed of.