years was prescribed. However, at the relevant time, the proviso to sub-section (2) of Section 376 of the IPC read thus: Criminal Appeal no.2567 of 2024 etc. Page 13 of 15“376.……………………………………………………… (2)………………………………………………………….. Provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment of either description for a term of less than ten years.” 14. Hence, at the relevant time, the Court had the power, for adequate reasons mentioned in the judgment, to impose a sentence of imprisonment of either description for a term of less than ten years. We have perused the sentencing part of the impugned judgment of the High Court. The High Court has noted the following factors: a. The incident was of 8th July 1989; b. For the offences alleged under Section 376 of the IPC, by the judgment dated 30th September 1992, the accused were acquitted; c. Sixteen years after that, on 28th March 2008, the High Court interfered and remanded the