New Delhi, Dec 22: The Centre has refused to consider the Supreme Court’s suggestion to reduce the age from 18 to 16 in the consensual sexual relationship among children.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Women and Child development Minister Smriti Irani said the question of reducing the age from 18 to 16 for consensual sexual relationship among children does not arise.
“The POCSO act to safeguard children from sexual abuse and sexual offences clearly defines a child below the age of 18. In this background, there is no question of considering the lowering of age from 18 to 16,” she said.
It may be recalled that Chief Justice of India Justice D. Y. Chandrachud had urged the Parliament to address concerns related to the age of consent under the POCSO Act. Under this act, sexual relationship among children – even if it is consensual in a romantic relationship – is considered as a criminal act for those under the age of 18.
Smriti Irani said, “Any change in the existing Act – lowering the age from 18 to 16 – will have catastrophic consequences and the very purpose of POCSO Act will be defeated. Children are children and there should no scope for them to indulge in sexual act at that age. Consent simply does not arise as they are not in a matured frame of mind to decide what is morally right and wrong. And who will decide what is romantic and not romantic”
It may be recalled that in-spite of the existing POCSO Act and setting up of Child Welfare Committees (CWC), there have been a number of cases of child abuse in the country.
“The reasons for such heinous crimes taking place in the country are many. First of all, moral education is not being imparted at the young age. Elders take children for granted. Children themselves are exposed to pornography. And there is an atmosphere of promiscuity in the society. All these can have adverse impact on the tender minds of young children,” said Bharathi Singh, women activist and a psychological counsellor.
#Supreme Court #reduce the age #consensual #sexual relationship #children #Rajya Sabha #Women and Child development Minister #Smriti Irani #POCSO act
