Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted bail to Atul Mishra, an accused under the POCSO Act, saying the law is not for juvenile love affairs. The accused was having an affair with a 14-year-old girl and both of them had run away and got married in a temple. After this, both lived together for about two years, but during this time the girl gave birth to a child. Allowing the bail application of Atul Mishra, Justice Rahul Chaturvedi said that there are increasing cases where juveniles and youth are being booked for offenses under the POCSO Act, but it is a matter of great concern.
The court said that the POCSO Act is made to protect children from crimes like sexual abuse, harassment, pornography and to protect their rights. However, looking at the large number of cases registered under POCSO, it seems that they have been registered on the complaint of the families of the juveniles involved in love affair. Allowing the bail application of the applicant, the court observed that there is no doubt that the consent of the minor girl has no value in the eyes of law, but in the present scenario where the girl has given birth to a child. “She has refused to accompany her parents in her statement and has been living with her child in very inhuman condition at Government Children’s Home, Khuldabad, Prayagraj since last four-five months,” the court said.
read also
The court said that on a holistic assessment of the circumstances, it is found that the responsibility of the children’s learning in the home rests with the parents, but here the parents instill in their children the values of life, goals and priorities of life and family tradition. miserably failed to develop the spirit of The court said that if these juvenile children decide to tie the knot and now they have a child in this relationship, then surely the POCSO law will not come in their way. The court made it clear that the girl was not sexually assaulted or sexually assaulted here. (agency)