SC overturns controversial judgement on adolescent girls

It also issues guidelines to deal with sensitive issues

It goes a long in protecting dignity of adolescents

The Supreme Court has overturned a controversial judgment by the Calcutta High Court, which had urged adolescent girls to control their sexual urges and protect the integrity of their bodies. The Supreme Court bench, led by Justice AS Oka, issued guidelines for judges on handling cases involving adolescents, emphasizing the need for special sensitivity and precaution.

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The Supreme Court also reversed the Calcutta High Court’s decision to acquit a man convicted of raping a minor girl, with whom he allegedly had a “romantic affair.” Upholding the conviction, the bench announced that a committee of experts would determine the appropriate punishment for the convicted man.

The Calcutta High Court’s judgment, delivered last year, had sparked controversy for its stance on adolescent sexuality. It called for a “duty/obligation-based approach” and suggested decriminalizing consensual sexual acts involving adolescents above 16 years of age. The judgment stated, “It was the duty/obligation of every female adolescent to protect her right to the integrity of her body, protect her dignity and self-worth, thrive for the overall development of herself… control sexual urge/urges… as in the eyes of society she is the loser when she gives in to enjoy the sexual pleasure of hardly two minutes.”

The Supreme Court’s ruling effectively nullifies this controversial perspective, reaffirming the importance of protecting the rights and dignity of adolescents in legal proceedings.