Supreme Court Sets Aside POCSO Conviction After Noting Sex Was Consensual; Survivor Married Accused

The Supreme Court quashed the conviction of a man under the POCSO Act after finding that the alleged sexual relationship between him and the survivor was consensual and that they were now married. The Court observed that while the POCSO Act aims to protect minors, its provisions should not be applied mechanically in cases where the underlying relationship reflects mutual consent and emotional involvement rather than coercion or exploitation. It stressed the need for courts to examine the factual matrix and age proximity of the parties to avoid criminalizing youthful relationships. The ruling reiterates a humane approach that distinguishes consensual adolescent relationships from sexual abuse, emphasizing that criminal law should not disrupt genuine social bonds formed later through marriage.