A groundbreaking ruling by the Karnataka High Court has clarified that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act is gender-neutral, extending its reach to prosecute women for crimes against minors. The decision stemmed from a case in Bengaluru involving a 52-year-old woman accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy between February and June 2020, with Justice M. Nagaprasanna rejecting her plea to quash the FIR, affirming the law protects all children irrespective of the offender’s gender. The woman, an artist and neighbor, allegedly coerced the boy into repeated acts at her home, challenging traditional gender biases in legal accountability.
The court’s stance has upheld the case, with police continuing the investigation into the woman’s actions, dismissing a four-year reporting delay as immaterial due to the victim’s age. Legal experts are debating the ruling’s impact, while the community has responded with awareness campaigns to educate on child safety laws.
