Agreement to settle rape case is void, against public policy: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court declared that any agreement to settle a rape case outside the legal process is void as it contravenes public policy. The court emphasized that rape is a serious offense against society and cannot be privately settled through compensation or other agreements between the parties. The ruling came in response to a case where the accused sought to quash the charges based on a settlement with the victim. The court held that such agreements undermine the rule of law and the justice system's integrity, reaffirming that crimes like rape must be prosecuted to their full extent.