MUMBAI: Bombay High Court has suggested that lowering the age limit for consensual sex should be actively considered. The court pointed out that the current age limit of 18 years in India is the highest globally and in many other countries the age limit is between 14 and 16 years.

Punishing minors for consensual sex is against their best interest. Justice Bharti Dangre made the observation while hearing the appeal of a man who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for having a consensual relationship with a minor girl.

Since the introduction of POCSO, many such cases have been reported. Many teenagers are prosecuted and jailed. The court said that protecting children from crime is as important as preventing people from being punished by law despite having consent.