'25% of POCSO cases are romantic relations': study

• A study recently found that 1 in every 4 cases under POCSO Act in West Bengal, Assam and Maharashtra constituted “romantic cases”.
• In it, the victim was found to be in a consensual relationship with the accused.

Findings of the study

• ~ ½ of the “romantic cases” (46.6%), the girl was between 16 to 18 years.
• In 1,508 cases (87.9% of the “romantic cases”), the girl admitted to being in a “romantic relationship” with the accused, either during the investigation stage or evidence stage, or both.
• POCSO served as a device to compel the accused to honor his promise of marriage.
• Convictions were recorded only in exceptional cases and acquittals were the norm in “romantic cases”.
• Courts take a lenient view of cases when legislation does’nt recognise consensual sexual activity for minors below the age of 18 years.

Prelims Takeaway

• POCSO
• UNICEF