STRENGTHENING LEGAL FRAMEWORKS AGAINST CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION: A CASE ANALYSIS OF JUST RIGHTS FOR CHILDREN ALLIANCE V. S. HARISH, 2024 INSC 716 (23 SEPTEMBER 2024)

AUTHOR – DR. SALEEM AHMED M A, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT CRESCENT SCHOOL OF LAW, BS ABDUR RAHMAN CRESCENT INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA.

BEST CITATION – DR. SALEEM AHMED M A, STRENGTHENING LEGAL FRAMEWORKS AGAINST CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION: A CASE ANALYSIS OF JUST RIGHTS FOR CHILDREN ALLIANCE V. S. HARISH, 2024 INSC 716 (23 SEPTEMBER 2024), INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 4 (4) OF 2024, PG. 965-976, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

INTRODUCTION

The case of Just Rights for Children Alliance v. S. Harish concerns a critical issue regarding child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CESAM) and the application of legal provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) and the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act). The main question raised before the Supreme Court was whether viewing CESAM is punishable under Section 15 of the POCSO Act and Section 67B of the IT Act, and whether the statutory presumption of a culpable mental state under Section 30 of the POCSO Act can be invoked in a quashing petition. The case explores significant legal principles regarding the possession and consumption of CESAM, statutory presumptions of malicious intent, and the evolving legal framework aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation.