Karnataka High Court quashes POCSO Act case against youth after marriage to victim

The Karnataka High Court has quashed proceedings under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) against a 23-year-old man who married the survivor of his sexual assault. On July 10, Justice M. Nagaprasanna ruled that continuing the case would bring undue hardship to the survivor and their child, leading to societal stigma. The Court's decision followed the marriage of the survivor and the petitioner, and it cited previous rulings where similar cases were closed upon marriage and birth of a child. The State opposed the plea, arguing that such offences are serious and warrant prosecution.