Supreme Court Puts On Hold ‘Disturbing’ Bombay High Court’s ‘Skin-To-Skin’ Order In Minor’s Groping Case

Supreme Court on January 27 stayed a “disturbing” order of the Bombay high court (HC) which held that groping of a minor cannot be considered sexual assault without "skin-to-skin contact" or if clothes were not removed. SC has put the order on hold, allowing Attorney General KK Venugopal to file a petition against it. The order was "disturbing" & would create a dangerous precedent, the Attorney General had said. The top court also put on hold the acquittal of a 39-year-old man whose jail sentence for groping a 12-year-old in 2016 was reduced by the High Court. The Bombay High Court had passed the controversial order on January 19. It said groping a minor's breast without "skin-to-skin contact" cannot be termed as sexual assault as defined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Watch the video to know more.