By Dr. Ajay Kumar Pandey
Advocate, Supreme Court of India | National General Secretary & Spokesperson, LJP (RV)

The latest NCRB data exposes a worrying truth – our justice system is criminalizing young love while failing miserably at delivering convictions.
Between 2018 and 2022, 52,471 juveniles were charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, but only 6,892 cases ended in conviction. That’s a conviction rate of just 12.4%.
For young adults (18-22 years), the story is no better. Out of 52,073 cases filed, only 6,039 convictions were secured – a 11.6% conviction rate.
Let’s put this into perspective:
POCSO cases are often triggered by consensual relationships where one partner is below the legal age of consent (18 years).
Families use the law to target relationships they disapprove of, turning teenage romance into a criminal case.
Even when the relationship is consensual, the boy is booked for statutory rape – a label that will haunt him for life.
The result?
Thousands of young men are dragged into years-long legal battles.
Convictions remain abysmally low, meaning most accused suffer without justice being served to anyone.
The justice system’s energy is wasted on cases where the alleged “victim” may have willingly been in the relationship.
Key Stats (2018–2022):
Juveniles (12–18 years): Conviction rate – 12.4% under POCSO.
Young Adults (18–22 years): Conviction rate – 11.6%.
Rape convictions overall: Dropped 23.62% from 2018 to 2022.
The law’s intention – to protect children – is noble. But the misuse, especially in consensual teenage relationships, is undeniable. The result is a clogged justice system, ruined futures, and little actual justice.
The question we must ask:
Shouldn’t the law differentiate between predatory sexual abuse and consensual relationships between young people close in age?
It’s time for lawmakers, the judiciary, and society to rethink how we handle age of consent laws – because right now, we are manufacturing criminals out of young lovers.
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