Adolescents should be free to have romantic relationships without fear of law: Delhi High Court
- Case Name: State v. Hitesh
The Delhi High Court acquitted a man accused of raping a minor, recognizing it was a case of adolescent love and physical relations between them were consensual.
The court acknowledged that while Section 375 of the IPC and the POCSO Act, 2012 criminalize sexual relations with a minor, the law must be applied contextually.
The girl's father lodged a missing complaint in 2014 and she was later found with the man from Ghaziabad. A trial court sentenced him to seven years rigorous imprisonment under the POCSO. The man challenged his conviction.
The High Court advocated for a compassionate approach prioritizing "understanding" over "punishment" in criminal cases involving adolescent love.
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