Supreme Court upheld a man’s conviction for sexually assaulting a minor but reduced his sentence from natural life to standard life imprisonment. Court ruled enhanced punishment under amended POCSO can’t apply retrospectively.
A Lucknow High Court judge said that grabbing breasts and breaking pyjamas is not enough to call it rape. This decision has angered people across the country. Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal criticized the ruling, saying, “With such judges adorning the Bench, God save this country!” He also blamed the Supreme Court for not taking strict action against such judges. Many legal experts and activists believe this kind of judgment makes the fight against sexual violence weaker.
A letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) urged the immediate removal of a judge who stated that grabbing a woman’s breast is not enough to constitute a rape allegation. The remark created nationwide outrage, with activists and legal experts condemning it as a dangerous precedent. Critics argue that such statements undermine the seriousness of sexual assault cases and violate the spirit of justice. The controversy has intensified calls for judicial accountability and gender-sensitive legal interpretations.
New Delhi, March 7: The Delhi High Court has ruled that merely touching and pressing the lips of a minor girl or sleeping next to her cannot be considered “aggravated sexual assault” under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act unless there is a sexually motivated intent behind it.
