25
Oct
New Delhi, October 25, 2025: The Supreme Court has agreed to examine whether the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, are gender-neutral and if a woman can be prosecuted under the Act for sexually assaulting a minor boy.A Bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma issued a notice to the Karnataka Government while staying the criminal proceedings against a woman, Archana Patil, who faces charges under the POCSO Act. The case will determine whether the Act’s wording allows female offenders to be prosecuted for sexual assault against boys.Patil, 48, is accused…