Rajasthan High Court Suggests 'Romeo Juliet Clause' for POCSO Act

• Rajasthan High Court suggests adding a 'Romeo Juliet clause' to the POCSO Act to differentiate consensual adolescent relationships from sexual exploitation.
• The court observed that many POCSO cases involve 'Romeo Juliet' situations, where consensual relationships are criminalized due to technical age differences.
• Justice Anil Kumar Upman's single bench quashed an FIR and trial proceedings in a case involving consensual relations between minors.
• The High Court emphasized that the stringent law's purpose is to protect children from exploitation, not to criminalize consensual relationships between adolescents.
• The Supreme Court also previously highlighted the misuse of POCSO and suggested a 'Romeo-Juliet' clause for genuine adolescent relationships.

Why It Matters: Rajasthan High Court advocates for a 'Romeo Juliet clause' in POCSO to protect consensual adolescent relationships.