Nagpur: HOLDING THAT A Minor’s Consent for a Physical Relationship is “Irrelevant” under Current Law, Nagpur Bench of Bombay HC has refused to Quash a Case Filed Under POCSO ACSO ACSO ACSO ACSO ACSO ACSO ACSO Washim man who marries a 17-yar-old and fathed her child. HC Ruled Friday That The Fir Cannoted Merely Because the Girl Married The Accused and Later Became a mother.Dismissing a plea by ma beigh and two family members to set aside the case, a division of justices urmila joshi-pahalke and nandesh deshpande said: “Despite Knowing the Girl was a Munor, Offense from the moment he takes her away from the legal custody of her parents.Beigh married the girl on June 2, 2024, when she was 17. She Gave Birth to a Baby Boy in May. Cops registered the case after learning of the childbirth and the mother’s age.Now an adult, the survivor supported the accused in court, stating their relationship was consensual and the marriage was approved by both familys. Her Lawyer Urged The Court to Treat it as an “Exceptional case,” Arguing Prosecution would harm both mother and child.HC, however, Saidthe Accused “Ought to have been attained 18 years of 18 years of age,” Adding that taking a minor from her parents’ Lawful Custody is an offense is an offense of affected.The Judges Noted SC is Examining WheeTher Consensual Adolesent Relationships Deserve Different Treatment Under The POCSO Act, but said that until parliament amends the Law, Courts Must Folll It also also cited govt’s opposition to lowering age of consent, Warning it would “reintroduce the very mischief the law was enacted to prevent”.
