The court emphasized the influence of social media and early puberty, highlighting the implications of consensual relationships and urging the government to reconsider the existing legal framework.
In a groundbreaking order, the Gwalior bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court has made an unprecedented plea to the Indian government, urging them to lower the age of consent for females from 18 to 16. Justice Deepak Kumar Agarwal, in the court's order, emphasized the need to address the perceived injustice faced by adolescent boys.
The court highlighted the influence of social media and easy internet accessibility, stating, "Nowadays, every male or female near the age of 14 years, due to social media awareness and easily accessible internet connectivity, is getting puberty at an early age." It further emphasized that early puberty leads to attraction between boys and girls, resulting in consensual physical relationships.
Expressing concern about the fabric of society, the court's order read, "'I request the Government of India to think over the matter for reducing the age of prosecutrix (female complainant) from 18 to 16 years as earlier before (IPC) amendments (were made) so that injustice should be redressed."
The court argued that the current age of consent for females at 18 has "disturbed the fabric of society." It emphasized that adolescent boys are victims of injustice in criminal cases involving complainants under 18, stating, "Today, most of the criminal cases, in which prosecutrix is under 18 years of age, due to aforesaid anomaly, injustice is going on with adolescent boys."