Supreme Court asks Centre to review POCSO on teen relationships

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 raised the age of consent from 16 to 18 years, making consent by minors legally invalid. As a result, consensual relationships between 16-17-year-olds can attract POCSO charges, forming about 20-25% of cases. The Supreme Court recently asked the Centre to consider decriminalising adolescent consensual relationships.