Supreme Court orders safeguards against POCSO Act misuse in marital disputes
The Supreme Court has issued directions to police and courts to exercise caution when handling Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act complaints arising from matrimonial disputes. The order requires authorities to vet such complaints carefully and seek assessment from a child psychiatrist before making arrests in cases where evidence is not "palpable" or clear-cut.
The directive aims to prevent misuse of the stringent POCSO Act in the context of marital conflicts, where false allegations have sometimes been levied by one spouse against the other. By mandating expert evaluation before custodial action, the Court seeks to balance child protection with safeguards against frivolous prosecutions.
