A 16-year-old Muslim girl has become the focus of a petition in the Supreme Court where Muslim Personal Law clashes with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, which prescribes 18 years as the age for sexual consent. There are some precedents, but this case is an important landmark.
The Supreme Court adjourned a suo motu matter regarding the plight of Children in Street Situation (CiSS) across the country and directed State governments to follow NCPCR guidelines until they come with schemes of their own rehabilitation of these children.
Supreme Court while hearing the case of suo-motu cognizance in regards to the children who have lost their parents to Covid- 19 directed the State and UTs to file a status report within 3 weeks, along with other measures taken by respective State and UT governments to reach out to such children.
Supreme Court bench passed the order on a special leave petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government, through the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), challenging the order of the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) transferring the case from local police to the CBI.
During the hearing, Justice Rao said that the children living on the footpath need to be given prime attention. There should not be any delay in this matter.