Adolescent Relationships and Legal Challenges Under India's POCSO Act

Two recent stories highlight challenges surrounding adolescent relationships under India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. One viral social media reel depicts a man marrying a girl who was underage at the relationship's start, raising concerns about normalizing adult-minor relationships. Another case involves a 16-year-old girl who eloped with a partner four years older, facing legal action and familial opposition rooted in caste differences. These cases illustrate tensions between legal protections, social norms, and consensual adolescent relationships in India.