Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh – The Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has made a request to the Central Government, urging them to consider reducing the age of consent for sexual intercourse for women from 18 years to 16 years. The court argued that due to the widespread availability of social media and internet, boys and girls are reaching puberty at an earlier age, around fourteen.
The court noted that early puberty leads to attraction and consensual physical relationships between boys and girls. Justice Deepak Kumar Aggarwal, while reading out the court’s order, emphasized the need for the Government of India to address the matter and amend the Indian Penal Code (IPC) accordingly. The request aims to prevent any injustice that may arise due to the current age of consent.
The court expressed concerns about the impact of raising the age of consent to 18 years, stating that it has disrupted the fabric of society. In a recent incident on June 27, the court dismissed a First Information Report (FIR) against a man who had been accused of repeatedly raping a minor girl in 2020, resulting in her pregnancy.
Based on the report from news agency PTI, the court’s decision to quash the FIR prompted the request to the Central Government to consider reducing the age of consent for girls.
The issue of the age of consent has been a subject of debate in various countries, with differing perspectives on what age is appropriate for individuals to engage in consensual sexual relationships. The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s request highlights the need for a comprehensive examination of the age of consent laws in India, taking into account the changing dynamics of society, early puberty, and the impact of technology on young individuals.