• Source:JND

SC on Sex Education: The Supreme Court has emphasized that sex education shouldn't be postponed until Class 9, highlighting the importance of introducing it earlier so that young adolescents can better understand the physical and emotional changes that come with puberty, and how to navigate them responsibly.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe on Wednesday pointed out that sex education needs to be integrated into the school curriculum at a younger stage. The goal, they said, is to help children grasp the changes they go through during adolescence and prepare them for the related challenges.

“We are of the opinion that sex education should be provided to children from a younger age and not Class IX onwards. It is for the authorities concerned to 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," the bench noted.

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These remarks came while the Court was hearing a case involving a 15-year-old boy who had been refused bail by the Allahabad High Court in August the previous year. The boy faced serious charges, including rape under Section 376 and criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as aggravated penetrative sexual assault under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Given that the accused was a minor himself, the Supreme Court had, in September, ordered his release on bail, subject to conditions set by the Juvenile Justice Board.

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During the course of the hearings, the apex Court also asked the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit an affidavit outlining how sex education is currently being implemented in higher secondary schools.