The Supreme Court has granted bail to a 15-year-old boy accused under Sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, while emphasizing the urgent need for introducing sex education at an earlier age.
A Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Alok Aradhe set aside the Allahabad High Court’s order dated August 28, 2024, which had denied bail to the juvenile. The Court made absolute its interim order of September 10, 2025, releasing the minor on conditions fixed by the Juvenile Justice Board.
During the proceedings, the Court had directed the State of Uttar Pradesh to file an affidavit detailing how sex education was incorporated in school curricula. In response, the State informed that the curriculum for Classes IX–XII follows NCERT guidelines.
However, the Bench observed that sex education should start before Class IX, so children can be made aware of puberty-related changes and their implications at a younger age. The Court left it to the authorities to take corrective measures accordingly.
Clarifying that its observations were limited to the issue of bail and not the merits of the case, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal and directed that the bail order remain in effect until the trial’s conclusion.
