The Supreme Court has delivered a verdict that has sparked discussions among the public. It’s essential for everyone to understand the implications of this decision. In essence, if someone forcibly gifts flowers to a minor, they could be prosecuted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. This aspect was addressed in the recent ruling by the Supreme Court. The court ruled on a case involving a male teacher at a boys’ school who presented flowers to a minor female student. The court deemed pressuring a minor to accept gifts in front of others as sexual harassment under the POCSO Act. However, the court also considered the reputation of the accused teacher and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation of the evidence.
The trial court and the Madras High Court had previously heard the case. During the proceedings, the Supreme Court also raised the possibility that the girl might have been used as a pawn to address personal grievances against the teacher. Justices Deepankar Datta, KV Vishwanathan, and Sandeep Mehta presided over the case and delivered the verdict. This panel overturned the verdicts of the Tamil Nadu trial court and the Madras High Court, which had initially sentenced the teacher to three years in prison.
Question of the Teacher’s Integrity: The Supreme Court acquitted the accused teacher. Moreover, the court emphasized the need for balanced decisions in cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct, particularly when the reputation of a teacher is at stake.
