Calcutta High Court Tells Teenagers: Respect Dignity, Control Sexual Urges, and Focus on Growth
The Calcutta High Court recently gave strong advice to teenage boys and girls during a case where a young boy was earlier sentenced to 20 years in prison under the POCSO Act. The boy had a consensual relationship with a girl who was also a minor.
A bench of Justices Chitta Ranjan Dash and Partha Sarathi Sen set aside the conviction. They noted that the POCSO Act does not differentiate between consensual and non-consensual sex between teenagers aged 16 to 18 years.
Quoting the Mahabharata principle “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah” (Those who protect the law will be protected by it), the court gave a set of moral and practical guidelines for adolescents to follow.
🌸 Duties for Female Adolescents:
- Protect the integrity of your body.
- Maintain your dignity and self-worth.
- Grow as a person beyond gender stereotypes.
- Control sexual desires, as society often unfairly blames girls in such cases.
- Preserve your body’s autonomy and privacy.
👦 Duties for Male Adolescents:
- Respect the dignity, privacy, and body autonomy of girls.
- Train your mind to treat women with respect and understand their self-worth.
The court acknowledged that attraction and curiosity about sex are common during adolescence. However, it said that sexual urges are not uncontrollable or natural, but rather develop from conscious actions.
The bench stressed the importance of sex education, starting at home and continuing in school curriculums. It should include lessons on:
- Reproductive health
- Hygiene
- Relationship commitment
“Adolescents should not make choices that lead them into a darker path in life,” the court said. “It is normal to seek companionship, but sex without commitment is not normal. True relationships should be built on dedication, maturity, and financial independence.”
The court concluded that sex should be a result of love and commitment, not just a moment of desire.
Case Title: Probhat Purkait @ Provat v The State of West Bengal
Be a part our social media community:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndianMan.in?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/indianman.in?igsh=MWZ2N3N0ZmpwM3l3cw==
