POCSO Act Not Meant To Criminalise Consensual Romantic Relations: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court ruled that the POCSO Act criminalizes all sexual relationships with minors, even if consensual or romantic in nature. The court emphasized that the law makes no exceptions for romantic involvement when the victim is below the age of consent. This judgment clarifies the absolute nature of statutory rape provisions under POCSO, regardless of the circumstances. The decision comes amid ongoing debates about the need to distinguish between exploitative relationships and teenage romances in POCSO cases. While upholding the strict liability nature of the offense, the court acknowledged the need for legislative reconsideration of this aspect, but stressed that judicial interpretation cannot dilute the clear statutory provisions.