The Supreme Court questions whether criminal cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) law are being misused in situations involving teen elopement or voluntary relationships between adolescents. In proceedings reported by News18 and the Deccan Chronicle, the court asks how a state can prevent boys and girls from eloping, and whether consensual “experimentation” between teenagers automatically turns such relationships into POCSO offences.
Both outlets report the court’s concern that parents may invoke POCSO to deal with relationships that are not necessarily exploitative, including cases framed around “honour.” The court’s line of questioning points to the need to distinguish between unlawful sexual offences covered by POCSO and relationships involving adolescents that may be voluntary. The reports do not indicate a final ruling in the coverage provided, but they highlight the court’s scrutiny of how the law is applied in elopement scenarios and the circumstances that lead to prosecution.
