Latest news with #ProtectionofChildrenfromSexualOffences)Act
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Dangerous to reduce age of consent for sex below 18: Centre in Supreme Court
The Centre has told the Supreme Court that the statutory age of consent at 18 years is a "deliberate, well-considered, and coherent" policy decision intended to protect minors from sexual exploitation. The matter is being argued in the Supreme Court amid cases of men being punished under the stringent Pocso Act despite the girl being in a consensual sexual relationship. Senior advocate and amicus curiae Indira Jaising backed reducing the age to 16 to decriminalise adolescent government, however, said the courts were free to decide on a case-to-case government's position, presented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, emphasised that this legal threshold is essential for upholding the integrity of child protection laws and should not be diluted under the pretext of accommodating adolescent romantic relationships. Arguing against any proposal to reduce the age of consent or create legal exceptions, the Centre stated such a move would be"not only legally unsound but also dangerous", according to a PTI further said that relaxing the law would "provide a defence mechanism even to those abusers who exploit a child's emotional dependence or silence".NEED TO PREVENT MISUSE OF CONSENT: GOVTAccording to the Centre, strict and uniform enforcement of the existing law is necessary to prevent the misuse of "consent" as a defence in cases involving minors."Any departure from this standard, even in the name of reform or adolescent autonomy, would amount to rolling back decades of progress in child protection law, and undermine the deterrent character of statutes like the Pocso (the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, 2012 and the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita)," the Centre government also made it clear that any discretion in applying the law must remain with the judiciary on a case-by-case basis, and should not be introduced into the statute as a general rule or diluted standard, according to the PTI warned that "introducing a legislative close-in-age exception or reducing the age of consent would irrevocably dilute the statutory presumption of vulnerability that lies at the heart of child protection law. A diluted law risks opening the floodgates to trafficking and other forms of child abuse under the garb of consent."It reiterated that lowering the age of consent would open the "floodgates" to various forms of abuse masked as consensual relationships, especially in a social context marked by inequality and power the case currently before the top court, the issue at hand concerns the legal treatment of adolescent OF 18 FOR CONSENT NOT ARBITRARY: GOVTadvertisementDefending the existing law, the Centre said, "The legislative determination to fix the age of consent at eighteen (18) years, and to treat all sexual activities with a person below that age as an offence irrespective of purported consent, is a product of a deliberate, well-considered, and coherent statutory policy."The Centre explained that the 18-year threshold is not arbitrary but stems from a "constitutional and legislative recognition of a minor's vulnerability, especially in a socio-economic context marked by deep inequalities and power imbalances."In particular, it pointed out that a child's inability to resist or report abuse becomes even more complex when the abuser is a parent or a close relative."In such cases, presenting 'consent' as a defence only victimises the child, shifts the blame onto them, and undermines the very object of Pocso to protect children from exploitation regardless of whether they were 'willing'," it to the Centre, retaining the current age of consent is essential to "give full effect to the legislative intent, protect the bodily integrity of children, and uphold the constitutional and statutory safeguards accorded to them.""The Supreme Court, along with high courts across the country, have always maintained the sanctity of legal age of consent as 18 years of age. This statutory yardstick has been upheld on numerous occasions, keeping in view the legislative intent and the pre-eminent constitutional mandate of protecting young children," it submission comes in response to arguments made earlier by Indira Jaising, who had urged the Court to read down the age of consent from 18 to 16 years. Jaising told the bench that the current law "criminalises consensual romantic relationships among adolescents and violates their constitutional rights".- EndsTrending Reel
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
Probe under way into alleged sexual assault of child in Thane school
Parents of a four-year-old girl studying in a reputed school in Maharashtra's Thane city have alleged that an unidentified person sexually assaulted her, prompting police to launch an investigation, officials said. Also read:Crimes against children not hidden, criminals are punished: NCPCR on 96% rise in child rape cases In their complaint to police, the parents have alleged a person in blue clothes sexually assaulted their daughter in the school premises on July 30 between 11.15 am and 3 pm, the officials said on Monday (August 4, 2025). Taking serious note of the matter, the police examined the CCTV footage of the school as part of their probe. Probe under POCSO expanded: police "We are investigating the matter under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. Although the initial CCTV investigation did not reveal any suspicious movement, we are expanding the probe so that no link is left unturned," a senior police official said. The school administration was cooperating with the police in the case, he informed. Statements of the school staff were being recorded and information was also being sought from other witnesses in the area, according to police. In August last year, two minor girls were sexually assaulted inside the toilet of a school at Badlapur in Thane district by a male attendant, sparking widespread protests and outrage. The accused, Akshay Shinde, was later killed in an alleged retaliatory police shootout while being escorted in a police vehicle.
News18
4 days ago
- News18
Parents allege 4-year-old daughter sexually assaulted in Thane school; probe on
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Thane, Aug 5 (PTI) Parents of a four-year-old girl studying in a reputed school in Maharashtra's Thane city have alleged that an unidentified person sexually assaulted her, prompting police to launch an investigation, officials said. In their complaint to police, the parents have alleged a person in blue clothes sexually assaulted their daughter in the school premises on July 30 between 11.15 am and 3 pm, the officials said on Monday. Taking serious note of the matter, the police examined the CCTV footage of the school as part of their probe. 'We are investigating the matter under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. Although the initial CCTV investigation did not reveal any suspicious movement, we are expanding the probe so that no link is left unturned," a senior police official said. The school administration was cooperating with the police in the case, he informed. Statements of the school staff were being recorded and information was also being sought from other witnesses in the area, according to police. In August last year, two minor girls were sexually assaulted inside the toilet of a school at Badlapur in Thane district by a male attendant, sparking widespread protests and outrage. The accused, Akshay Shinde, was later killed in an alleged retaliatory police shootout while being escorted in a police vehicle. PTI COR RSY GK view comments First Published: August 05, 2025, 08:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Time of India
Family in Ludhiana protests with body of daughter after father held in police custody.
Ludhiana: A poor auto-rickshaw driver picked up by police in connection with a Pocso case of abduction was unable to see his dying daughter for three days. His nine-year-old child, a cancer patient, died on Tuesday after allegedly missing critical treatment — while her father remained in what the family claims was illegal custody. The grief-stricken family of this auto-rickshaw driver staged a dramatic protest against police outside the deputy commissioner's office in the mini secretariat on Wednesday, where it placed the body of his daughter on the pavement, claiming her death could have been prevented had her father not been taken away and held for three days in connection with a minor girl's abduction case. The auto-rickshaw driver said: "My daughter needed urgent treatment, but the police didn't listen. They held me without reason. I was released only after my daughter died. I want justice." The Incident The family claims that two police officers and a local man identifying himself as a social worker had picked up the man on July 27 around 8 pm from his house in Haibowal area. The police allegedly accused him of involvement in the abduction of a minor girl — an incident for which his cousin had been arrested already. The man claims that despite informing the cops that his daughter had critical ailment and required medical attention, all his pleas were ignored. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top Doctor: If You Eat Banana Every Day, This Is What Happens WellnessGuide Learn more Undo He was allegedly kept at the Jagatpuri police post until Tuesday, when his family informed him of his daughter's death. The girl, they said, had missed life-sustaining care in his absence. The family also accused the so-called social worker of assaulting the driver physically in custody and demanding ₹8 lakh from him to "settle" the case. They further allged that this social worker had personal ties to the family of the abducted girl, raising concerns of conflict of interest. Police Response Police arrived at the protest site shortly after it began and collected a written complaint from the family. Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-III) Kanwalpreet Singh confirmed that an FIR had been lodged earlier this month against the auto-rickshaw driver's cousin in the alleged abduction and rape of a minor girl under the Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. ADCP Kanwalpreet Singh said: "During questioning, the accused named the auto-rickshaw driver as an accomplice, which is why we summoned him for verification. He informed us about his daughter's illness, and we let him go the same day. His daughter's death is tragic, but the protest appears to be an attempt to exert pressure on police to clear his name." The ADCP also confirmed that the department would also investigate the allegations against the social worker, including claims of assault and extortion. "We are verifying the facts. If any wrongdoing is found — by police or civilians — it will be acted upon," he said. Ongoing Investigation While no action has been taken against the officers involved, police claim to be probing both the initial abduction case and the counter-allegations raised by the auto-rickshaw driver's family. The girl's death has added a tragic dimension to an already complex case, raising questions about due process, custodial protocol, and the intersection of justice and medical neglect. MSID:: 122999125 413 |
Mint
27-07-2025
- Mint
Mother poisons 3 minor daughters to death in Maharashtra's Thane, mixes pesticide in food
In a shocking incident, three minor girls were poisoned to death by their own mother after being distressed over domestic issues in Thane district of Maharashtra. The accused woman, identified as 27-year-old Sandhya Sandeep Bere,was arrested by the police on Sunday. She was living at Talepada in Asnoli village under Shahapur area of Thane district. Sandhya, a housewife, allegedly mixed a pesticide in "varan bhat" (a traditional rice and lentil dish) and served it to her daughters, aged 5, 8 and 10, on July 20, a senior police official said, according to news agency PTI. The minor girls soon experienced health complications, including vomiting and giddiness, and were rushed to a local hospital. As their condition worsened, two of them were later admitted to a hospital in Mumbai where they died on July 24 and July 25. Another girl was shifted to a hospital in Nashik where she succumbed on July 24, the official said. According to the police, the Khinavli police station initially registered a case of accidental death. However, the autopsy report on Saturday night revealed the presence of poison in the children's bodies. On the basis of the crucial evidence, the police registered a case of murder against the children's mother and arrested her around 2 AM on Sunday. Sandhya had been grappling with domestic issues, including her husband's habit of liquor consumption. She had separated from her husband and was struggling to care for her three daughters which apparently drove her to the crime, as per the police. The woman's in-laws had suspected her involvement in the death of the three children. Further investigation was underway into the matter. Two minor girls were allegedly gang-raped after being abducted at gunpoint from their home in the Budhana area of Muzaffarnagar district, reported PTI. A case was registered against the two accused, identified as Pradeep and Gaurav, under sections of the BNS and the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, Circle Officer (CO)Gajendra Pal Singh said. He added that both men are currently absconding and two police teams have been formed to arrest them. The incident came to light when the minors, aged 15 and 16, returned home and informed their family members about the alleged rape. According to the complaint lodged by the victims' family, Pradeep and Gaurav, also from the same village, arrived on a motorcycle and abducted the girls at gunpoint on Friday. The two cousins were taken to another location where the alleged rape occurred.
