Urgent need for POCSO reforms

The Supreme Court has struck the right chord by expressing concern over the misuse of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act while hearing a writ petition seeking compulsory sex education in schools and sensitising children about anti-rape laws.

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A Bench comprising Justices BV. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan has issued notices to the Centre and the states, opening a much-needed debate on how to protect children without criminalising youthful indiscretions or weaponising the law. Nobody can deny that POCSO was enacted to meet a pressing need. Crimes against children, especially in schools, homes, and institutions, had been rising alarmingly. The law was designed to be a strong deterrent. It simplified procedures, encouraged reporting, and sought to ensure that predators—often persons in positions of trust—did not escape punishment. At its heart, POCSO is a declaration that society will not tolerate the exploitation of children.