Observing that several countries have reduced the age of consent for adolescents to have a consensual sexual relationship, the Bombay High Court recently said it was high time our country and Parliament were cognizant of the happenings around the world.

The Bombay High Court recently declared that it was high time our nation and Parliament were aware of the events taking place throughout the world after observing that numerous countries had lowered the age of consent for minors to have a consensual sexual connection. The Bombay High Court has stated that it is about time our nation and Parliament are aware of what is going on in other nations that have lowered the age of consent for minors to engage in consensual sexual encounters. While struking down judgement of Special Court, Justice Bharati H Dangre made observations while raising concern over the increasing number of criminal cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in which the accused are accused of rape even when the adolescent victims confirm that they were in a consensual relationship.

The court convicted a 25 years old man who was convicted by the special court under the POCSO Act for raping and sexually assaulting a 17 year old girl. It must be noted that the girl had said that she said that she was in a consensual relationship. Jutice Dangre while observing the case saud “Based on this aspect, the appellant, in my considered opinion, cannot suffer the sentence, in case of a consensual sexual act. A case of physical attraction or infatuation always comes forth, when a teenager enters into a sexual relationship and it is high time that our country is also cognizant of happenings around the world. The mere apprehension that adolescents would make an impulsive and bad decision, cannot classify them under one head and by ignoring their will and wishes,”.

 

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