Notice to Maharashtra Government on NCW plea

New Delhi, February 10

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Maharashtra Government on the National Commission for Women’s petition challenging the Bombay HC verdict that acquitted 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, which had on January 27 stayed the verdict and the acquittal of the accused, asked the Maharashtra Government to respond to the NCW’s petition against the January 19 verdict.

It also issued a notice to the accused on the Maharashtra Government’s petition against the HC verdict. — TNS