Official government publications and announcements

Supreme Court Led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud Rules Downloading, Watching Child Pornography Offenses Under POCSO Act

Sep 23, 2024, 06:40 AM

The Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and a three-judge bench, has ruled that downloading, watching, and storing child pornography are offenses under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology (IT) law. This decision overturns a previous judgment by the Madras High Court, which had held that mere downloading and private viewing of child pornography were not offenses. The Supreme Court has also suggested that Parliament amend the POCSO Act to replace the term 'child pornography' with 'child sexually exploitative and abusive material.' The court has laid down guidelines and emphasized the legal consequences of such actions, urging comprehensive sex education programs to deter potential offenders.