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Supreme Court: The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the misuse of POCSO cases. The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the POCSO Act is being misused in love cases and consensual relationships between teenagers.
Supreme Court: The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the misuse of POCSO cases. The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the POCSO Act is being misused in love cases and consensual relationships between teenagers. The court also stressed the need to spread awareness among boys and men about its legal provisions. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan was hearing a PIL seeking directions to sensitize people about the penal provisions of the Rape and Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act so as to make the country a better place for girls and women. The bench orally said that one thing, we would like to comment. The POCSO Act is being misused in cases related to marital discord and consensual relationships between teenagers. We should spread awareness among boys and men about legal provisions.
Next hearing on December 2
The apex court adjourned the hearing of the PIL till December 2. The bench said that some states and union territories have not filed their reply in the case. The top court had earlier issued notices to the Centre, Union Education, Information and Broadcasting Ministries and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on a petition filed by senior advocate Abad Harshad Ponda. Ponda said that there is a need to inform people about the laws related to rape and the changes in such laws after the Nirbhaya case. The petition seeks a number of measures, including directing the Education Ministry to ask all educational institutions providing free and compulsory education to children up to 14 years of age to include punitive provisions related to crimes against women and children.
need to spread awareness
The petition said that the topic of moral training should also be included to ensure awareness about gender equality, rights of women and girls and their freedom to live with dignity. The petition said efforts need to be made to change the mindset of boys especially in this country, an exercise which should start from the school level. The petition said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, CBFC and other broadcasting authorities should be directed to spread awareness about rape and its punishment and educate the public about the POCSO Act.
Also read: POCSO case: Court did not consider kissing the girl’s cheek as a criminal matter, the court gave this reason
