Supreme Court stays Bombay High Court’s ‘no skin contact, no abuse’ order

New Delhi, January 27

The Supreme Court today stayed a Bombay High Court order acquitting a man accused of child abuse on the ground that groping a child’s breasts without “skin-to-skin” contact didn’t amount to “sexual assault” under the POCSO Act.

A Bench headed by CJI SA Bobde also stayed the acquittal of the accused after Attorney General KK Venugopal said the judgment would set a dangerous precedent. The Bench allowed the Attorney General to file a special leave petition against the January 19 verdict of the HC. It also issued notices to the state and the accused. — TNS