Plea in Supreme Court: Lower Age of Consent from 18 to 16

Senior advocate Indira Jaising has requested the Supreme Court to reduce the statutory age of consent from 18 to 16 years, citing the need for realistic legal reform

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Jaising submitted her recommendations while assisting the court as amicus curiae in the ongoing case of Nipun Saxena vs Union of India, a key case on gender and child rights

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She argues against the blanket criminalisation of consensual sexual activity between adolescents aged 16 to 18, calling it unjust under the POCSO Act and Section 375 of IPC

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Jaising urges that the law must acknowledge that adolescents can engage in consensual relationships, and not all such acts should be labelled as sexual offences

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The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act currently treats anyone under 18 as incapable of consent — a stance Jaising says harms adolescent agency

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The current law leads to prosecution even in cases of mutual consent, often criminalising teenage love and causing trauma to both parties and families

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Jaising's argument is supported by psychological and social studies showing that 16-year-olds have the cognitive maturity to make consensual decisions in relationships

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She clarifies that lowering the age of consent doesn’t mean weakening child protection laws — it means refining them to avoid misuse and protect adolescent rights

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