Supreme Court reprimanded High Court for ‘two minutes of happiness’ comment on teenage girls, know the whole matter

New Delhi : The Supreme Court has overturned the decision of the Calcutta High Court in which a man was acquitted under the POCSO Act. The apex court also expressed displeasure over the High Court’s comment that girls should control their sexual desires and should not risk everything for ‘two minutes of pleasure’. The Supreme Court has issued comprehensive guidelines on the correct use of the POCSO Act and the way judges write judgments. The Supreme Court has annulled the High Court’s decision, calling it ‘objectionable’ and ‘unnecessary’ and has convicted the accused again. A committee of experts will decide on the further punishment in the case.

In fact, in 2023, the Calcutta High Court overturned the trial court’s decision to convict a person under the POCSO Act in a case. The High Court had said that the relationship between the accused and the victim was consensual. The court had said in its comment, ‘Control your sexual desires because in the eyes of society, if she agrees to sexual pleasure for two minutes, then she is the one who loses.’

The Supreme Court, while taking suo motu cognizance of the matter on December 8, had said that judges should give verdicts based on law and facts, and not preach in court proceedings. The bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan also questioned the validity of the High Court’s order acquitting the accused in the case registered under the IPC and POCSO Act. The Supreme Court termed the High Court’s remarks as ‘unacceptable’, ‘irrelevant’, ‘preachy’ and ‘inappropriate’.

The Supreme Court in its judgment said that it has issued comprehensive guidelines on the proper use of the POCSO Act and how judges should write their judgments.