The Supreme Court on Tuesday (November 4, 2025) said that the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) Act is being misused in cases of marital disputes and consensual relationships between teenagers. The court also stressed the need to spread awareness regarding these laws among boys and men.
The bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan was hearing a PIL seeking directions to sensitize people about the penal provisions against rape and the POCSO Act so as to make the country a better place for girls and women.
The bench said orally, ‘We would like to say one thing. The POCSO Act is being misused in cases related to marital disputes and consensual relationships between teenagers. We should spread awareness about legal provisions among boys and men.
The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on the PIL till December 2 and said that some states and union territories have not filed their reply in the matter. The Supreme Court had earlier issued notices to the Centre, Union Education and Information and Broadcasting Ministries and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on a petition filed by senior advocate Aabad Harshad Ponda.
Ponda said that there is a need to inform people about the laws related to rape and the changes in such laws after the Nirbhaya case. The petition has requested to take several steps, including directing the Education Ministry to inform all educational institutions providing free and compulsory education to children up to the age of 14 years regarding the penal provisions related to crimes against women and children.
It says that the subject of ethical training should also be included to ensure awareness of gender equality, rights of women and girls and freedom to live with dignity.
Accordingly, similar guidelines should be given to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, CBFC and other broadcasting authorities to increase awareness about rape and its punishment and to educate the public about the POCSO Act.