Supreme Court Proposes 'Romeo-Juliet' Clause to Address POCSO Misuse in Teen Relationships

India's Supreme Court is reviewing the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act amid concerns it is misused against consensual teenage relationships. The court proposed a 'Romeo-Juliet' clause to exempt close-in-age adolescent couples from severe penalties, aiming to protect genuine relationships while preserving the law's core purpose. Judges highlighted misuse of POCSO in family disputes and urged the government to consider narrowly tailored exemptions to prevent the law from punishing consensual young love.