 "Decriminalise consensual relationship under Pocso, form sex education policy, SC advises govt")
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to consider decriminalising consensual relationships between teenagers so they are not jailed under the strict Pocso law. It also suggested creating a policy on sexual and reproductive health education.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued a notice to the Centre, asking the Ministry of Women and Child Development to set up an expert panel to study the issue and submit a report by July 25. The court said it will issue further directions after reviewing the report.
The court order was triggered by a legal case involving a woman from West Bengal who wanted to protect her husband. He was sentenced to 20 years in jail under the Pocso Act for having a relationship with her when she was 14.
The court appointed two senior women lawyers, Madhavi Divan and Liz Mathew, to help with this sensitive issue. They suggested that teenagers in consensual relationships should be protected. While the Pocso Act is important for protecting minors from sexual abuse, applying it strictly to teen relationships can sometimes harm the young person involved and their family.
This is a developing story.
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