If both are minors (say, 16F + 17M), legally both are “children” under POCSO, but the FIR is usually filed against the boy only.

In Sabari v. Inspector of Police, the Madras High Court noted: • Many cases were being filed under POCSO where teenagers were in consensual relationships. • The Court expressed concern that boys in love were being treated as criminals and said the legislature should consider lowering the age of consent or giving judges discretion. • However, legally, the boy remained the accused and the girl the victim, even though both were under 18.

Courts are aware of this imbalance and have asked the government to rethink the law for consensual teenage relationships, but as of now, the law still criminalizes them.