Supreme Court: In the present case, a 15-year-old juvenile accused under Sections 376 and 506 of Penal Code, 1860 and Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 was denied bail by the High Court. Subsequently, vide order 10-9-2025, the present Court, released the juvenile and directed the Uttar Pradesh government to submit details on sex education in higher secondary schools. The Division Bench of Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe, JJ., opined that sex education should be provided to the children from a younger age and not from class IX onwards. The authorities concerned should apply their mind and take corrective measures, so that children are informed of the changes that happen after puberty and the care and cautions to be taken in relation thereto. Thus, the Court opened the said aspect for the authorities concerned to take necessary steps and set aside the impugned order passed by the High Court.
In the present case, vide its order dated 12-8-2025, the Court reiterated its direction to the State of Uttar Pradesh, to file an additional affidavit informing the Court as to how sex education was provided as a part of the curriculum in higher secondary schools within the State of Uttar Pradesh, so that young adolescents were made aware of the hormonal changes that come with puberty and the consequences that may flow therefrom.
Subsequently, pursuant to the said direction, an additional affidavit was filed by the Circle Officer, Sambhal, detailing the curriculum provided by the Secondary Education Department, Uttar Pradesh, for classes IX to XII, keeping with the directives of the National Council of Educational Research and Training. However, the Court opined that sex education should be provided to the children from a younger age and not from class IX onwards. The authorities concerned should apply their mind and take corrective measures, so that children are informed of the changes that happen after puberty and the care and cautions to be taken in relation thereto.
Thus, the Court opened the said aspect for the authorities concerned to take necessary steps and set aside the impugned order passed by the High Court. The Court made the order dated 10-9-2025 granting bail to the juvenile, absolute and the said order should continue to operate till the disposal of the criminal case/trial.
[X v. State of U.P. Criminal Appeal No. 4373 of 2025, decided on 8-10-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the Petitioner: V.N. Raghupathy, AOR
For the Respondent: Abhishek Saket, Adv.; Manisha, Adv.; Sudeep Kumar, AOR; Rupali, Adv. Ghanshyam Singh, Adv.
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