Supreme Court to review POCSO provision concerns

• Senior advocate Indira Jaising argues that mandatory reporting of sexual activity, even voluntary, under Section 19 of the POCSO Act is leading to criminalization of young people and threatening the fundamental right to health of adolescent girls.

• Jaising and senior advocate Siddharth Luthra argue that the age of consent was raised from 16 to 18 in 2012 with the POCSO Act, requiring knowledge of even voluntary sexual activity to be reported to the police.

• Jaising suggests counseling rather than criminalization in such cases.

• The court scheduled a detailed hearing on May 8.

• The Bench suggested seeking the assistance of Additional Solicitor-General Aishwarya Bhati and, if necessary, the Attorney-General of India on the issue.