Author: Areeba Ahad

Abstract The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, stands as a progressive milestone in India’s legal architecture, enacted to shield children from sexual offences through a sensitive, comprehensive, and child-centric framework. It recognizes the heightened vulnerability of individuals below 18 years of age and provides stringent safeguards against various forms of abuse. However, its rigid interpretation, particularly the absolute criminalization of all sexual activity involving minors—even where consensual and non-exploitative—has sparked critical debate among legal scholars, child rights activists, and the judiciary. This article critically evaluates the unintended consequences of this absolute age-based framework, especially the criminalization…

Misuse of Protective Laws: Section 498A, Judicial Responses, and the Human Cost The tragic case of Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old man from Pune who was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Bengaluru, has once again brought the debate on the misuse of laws meant to protect women into the national spotlight. Atul allegedly took his own life after enduring sustained mental harassment from his wife and in-laws. According to reports, this harassment was linked to false allegations under dowry and domestic violence provisions, which caused him immense psychological distress. His death has reignited the conversation on the need for gender-neutral…