Supreme Court Rules Rape Settlements Cannot Lead to Case Closure

The <b>Supreme Court</b> on Thursday ruled that a <b>rape</b> case cannot be dismissed merely because the parties reach a settlement, overturning a Madhya Pradesh High Court decision that had closed such a case. The judgment shines a light on a legal loophole that let powerful offenders escape full accountability through out‑of‑court deals, exposing a system that favours expediency over justice. Victims now have a stronger legal shield, but implementation will hinge on courts resisting pressure to settle quietly.