JODHPUR, June 14 -- Observing that rape is a crime against the body of a woman and that the honour of a woman cannot be put to stake by compromise or settlement, the Rajasthan High Court has set aside an order accepting a police closure report in a rape and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case, holding that the no-objection or consent of a minor victim cannot be a ground to terminate criminal proceedings against the accused, a lawyer familiar with the case said on Saturday. Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand quashed an order of a Special POCSO Court in Alwar that had accepted a negative final report submitted by the police after the minor complainant indicated that she did not wish to pursue the case further. According to the petition, the victim was a minor when the alleged incident took place and had lodged an FIR against the accused persons. Her statement was also recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) before a juvenile magistrate, where she specifically levelled allegations of rape against the accused. Counsel for the petitioner argued that the investigation was not conducted fairly and that the police submitted a negative final report despite the allegations made by the victim. It was further submitted that a notice regarding the final report was served on the minor while she was staying at a government children's home and that the report was accepted on the basis of her consent indicating that she did not want further proceedings. The bench noted that both at the time of the alleged offence and at the time the final report was submitted, the petitioner was a minor. Referring to the legal position, the bench observed: "It is settled proposition of law that consent of minor is no consent in the eyes of law." The bench said the victim's parents or guardian ought to have been summoned to submit objections to the final report. The bench emphasised that a minor lacks the legal capacity and maturity to assess the consequences of withdrawing from criminal proceedings....