Overview
- A bench led by Justices Sanjay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh urged the Union Law Secretary to consider a 'Romeo–Juliet' clause that would exempt genuine adolescent relationships from POCSO’s strict reach and to explore penalties for deliberate misuse.
- The Court set aside Allahabad High Court directions mandating medical age tests at the bail stage, holding that bail courts cannot run 'mini‑trials' and that age must be determined at trial under the Juvenile Justice Act’s Section 94 hierarchy of documents.
- While quashing the blanket investigative directions, the Supreme Court left the specific grant of bail in that case undisturbed and clarified that its ruling would operate prospectively.
- In a separate judgment, Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan canceled bail for an accused in the Shamli case, citing grave risks of evidence tampering and witness influence and directing the accused to surrender within two weeks and the trial court to prioritize the case.
- The Court emphasized POCSO’s protective purpose yet noted recurring weaponisation, including cases filed to oppose consensual teen relationships, and ordered administrative circulation of its judgment to the Allahabad High Court and the Union Law Ministry for follow‑up.