New Delhi, Oct. 31 -- The Supreme Court has set aside the conviction and 10-year sentence of a man found guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor - now his wife, on the condition that he must not abandon her or their infant, and asserted that "the law must yield to the cause of justice" in the unique circumstances of the case. Recording that the couple married in 2021, have since had a son, and are living together, a bench of justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih said it could not ignore the woman's plea to exonerate her husband so that they may "lead a peaceful marital life." "We are conscious of the fact that a crime is not merely a wrong against an individual but against society as a whole..However, the administration of such law is not divorced from the practical realities. Rendering justice demands a nuanced approach. This Court tailors its decisions to the specifics of each case: with firmness and severity wherever necessary and it is merciful when warranted," held the bench. It noted that the case involved a relationship of love, not coercion or lust, and continuing the imprisonment now would cause greater harm. "We draw inspiration from Cardozo, J. (former US Supreme Court judge) to hold that the law aims to ensure not just punishment of the guilty, but also harmony and restoration of the social order," it added. While the law cannot allow quashing of the charges against the accused on the basis of a compromise between the two, the court noted, ignoring the cry of the appellant's wife for compassion and empathy will not serve the ends of justice. "Continuation of the criminal proceedings and the appellant's incarceration would only disrupt this familial unit and cause irreparable harm to the victim, the infant child, and the fabric of society itself," it said. Exercising its constitutional power under Article 142, the bench proceeded to quash the conviction and sentence, but on a condition - that the man must maintain his wife and child "for the rest of their life with dignity." "If, in future, there be any default on the appellant's part and the same is brought to the notice of this Court...the consequences may not be too palatable for the appellant," it warned. Simultaneously, the court stressed that its order, which was passed in exercise of its extraordinary power under Article 142 to do complete justice, was not to be treated as a precedent in other cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The man was convicted by a Chennai trial court in 2018 under IPC Section 366 (kidnapping) and the POCSO Act. The Madras High Court upheld the conviction in 2021....