The Law Commission has advised the government against fiddling with the existing age of consent under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Commission in its report to Union Law Ministry also suggested introducing guided judicial discretion in the matter of sentencing in cases involving tacit approval of children in the 16-18 age group, reported PTI.
The current age of consent in India is 18.
The panel said that reducing the age of consent will have direct and negative bearing on the fight against child marriage and child trafficking. It also advised the courts to approach such cases with caution.
The panel headed by Ritu Raj Awasthi had submitted two reports to the Union law ministry, one regarding the conset of age under the POSCO Act and another on the online filing of FIRs.
(More details to follow)
