The Supreme Court has acknowledged concerns that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act is being weaponized by families to punish consensual relationships involving adolescents, particularly when the woman is under 18. Critics argue the Act's rigid age of consent and strict liability provisions, intended to protect against predatory violence, are being misused by disapproving families to enforce social boundaries. This can lead to charges of sexual assault in consensual relationships, overriding the minor's consent. The Law Commission has also noted this gap, recommending against lowering the age of consent while highlighting the need to distinguish consensual relationships from abuse.