{"id":627158,"date":"2025-07-25T13:10:54","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T07:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/web-stories\/-627158\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T13:10:59","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T07:40:59","slug":"reduce-the-age-of-consent-to-16-petitioner-tells-sc","status":"publish","type":"web-story","link":"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/web-stories\/reduce-the-age-of-consent-to-16-petitioner-tells-sc-627158\/","title":{"rendered":"Plea in Supreme Court: Lower Age of Consent from 18 to 16"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><html amp=\"\" lang=\"en\"><head><meta charSet=\"utf-8\"\/><meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width,minimum-scale=1,initial-scale=1\"\/><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ampproject.org\/v0.js\"><\/script><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ampproject.org\/v0\/amp-story-1.0.js\" custom-element=\"amp-story\"><\/script><link href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?display=swap&amp;family=Alegreya%3Awght%40700\" 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amp-story-captions {\n                margin-bottom: 16px;\n                text-align: center;\n              }<\/p>\n<p>              amp-story-audio-sticker {\n                height: 100%;\n              }<\/p>\n<p>              .audio-sticker {\n                font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\n              }\n              <\/style>\n<p><meta name=\"web-stories-replace-head-start\"\/><title>Plea in Supreme Court: Lower Age of Consent from 18 to 16<\/title><link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/web-stories\/reduce-the-age-of-consent-to-16-petitioner-tells-sc-627158\/\"\/><meta name=\"web-stories-replace-head-end\"\/><\/head><body><amp-story standalone=\"\" publisher=\"The Daily Guardian\" publisher-logo-src=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/NewsX-Logo-1.jpg\" title=\"Plea in Supreme Court: Lower Age of Consent from 18 to 16\" poster-portrait-src=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cropped-supreme-court-of-india-01.jpg\"><amp-story-page id=\"5a964a4f-65b1-4e28-9b00-edac79a73e56\" auto-advance-after=\"7s\"><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\" style=\"background-color:#cdccca\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:0;top:-9.25926%;width:100%;height:118.51852%;opacity:1\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0\" class=\"mask\" id=\"el-09b9aea8-54d1-420d-8f95-623efd9e85c3\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;width:296.2963%;height:100%;left:-99.12854%;top:0%\" data-leaf-element=\"true\"><amp-img layout=\"fill\" src=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/750x450-397057-supreme-court-of-india-sc-6.png\" alt=\"\" disable-inline-width=\"true\"><\/amp-img><\/div>\n<div class=\"element-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"page-background-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:9.46602%;top:65.85761%;width:80.82524%;height:27.83172%;opacity:1\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0;border-radius:0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% \/ 1.1627906976744187% 1.1627906976744187% 1.1627906976744187% 1.1627906976744187%\" id=\"el-fa18a9a8-9c30-4451-bd7d-11cd692c7c88\">\n<h2 class=\"fill text-wrapper\" style=\"white-space:pre-line;overflow-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;margin:0.8986486486486485% 0;font-family:&quot;Alegreya&quot;,serif;font-size:0.566343em;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;padding:0;color:#000000\"><span><span style=\"font-weight: 700; color: #fff\">Plea in Supreme Court: Lower Age of Consent from 18 to 16<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><\/amp-story-page><amp-story-page id=\"93677664-b0dc-488b-9aae-210eca39fd27\" auto-advance-after=\"7s\"><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-83735fb9-f3e4-4042-940c-8a0210de6b17 [data-leaf-element=\\\"true\\\"]\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)\",\"translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)\"]},\"delay\":0,\"duration\":2000,\"fill\":\"forwards\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-b085a60a-f0d9-404f-a84f-ab0a5fdb1f11\",\"keyframes\":{\"opacity\":[0,1]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-3be3de26-f469-4aca-b45a-c78beb178ae9\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(0px, -310.05531%, 0)\",\"translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)\"]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\" style=\"background-color:#34350d\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:0;top:-9.25926%;width:100%;height:118.51852%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-83735fb9-f3e4-4042-940c-8a0210de6b17\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0\" class=\"mask\" id=\"el-ba2f7d59-a28d-4b25-b97a-6a39061c9a75\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;width:177.77778%;height:100%;left:-38.88889%;top:0%\" data-leaf-element=\"true\"><amp-img layout=\"fill\" src=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/5448.webp\" alt=\"\" disable-inline-width=\"true\"><\/amp-img><\/div>\n<div class=\"element-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"page-background-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:9.46602%;top:65.85761%;width:80.82524%;height:35.76052%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-b085a60a-f0d9-404f-a84f-ab0a5fdb1f11\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:0;--initial-transform:none\">\n<div id=\"anim-3be3de26-f469-4aca-b45a-c78beb178ae9\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:1;--initial-transform:translate3d(0px, -310.05531%, 0)\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0;border-radius:0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% \/ 0.904977375565611% 0.904977375565611% 0.904977375565611% 0.904977375565611%\" id=\"el-7e739e8a-6edb-4e1a-be1d-5ca34c4ffcf9\">\n<h3 class=\"fill text-wrapper\" style=\"white-space:pre-line;overflow-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;margin:0.6675675675675684% 0;font-family:&quot;Alegreya&quot;,serif;font-size:0.420712em;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;padding:0;color:#000000\"><span><span style=\"font-weight: 700; color: #fff\">Senior advocate Indira Jaising has requested the Supreme Court to reduce the statutory age of consent from 18 to 16 years, citing the need for realistic legal reform<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><\/amp-story-page><amp-story-page id=\"60832507-cbc3-4d3c-a259-eb20844316a3\" auto-advance-after=\"7s\"><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-04e982ac-feb7-48c0-994d-f69e04e9957a [data-leaf-element=\\\"true\\\"]\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(-7.0913458054966005%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)\",\"translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)\"]},\"delay\":0,\"duration\":2000,\"fill\":\"forwards\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-10107094-2885-4f68-b1f1-e57cb08d06c9\",\"keyframes\":{\"opacity\":[0,1]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-f704c6f6-686b-48e7-a6d8-5af57ea94e73\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\",\"translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)\"]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\" style=\"background-color:#4a4336\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:0;top:-9.25926%;width:100%;height:118.51852%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-04e982ac-feb7-48c0-994d-f69e04e9957a\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0\" class=\"mask\" id=\"el-e6212971-b480-433e-b18a-4ab9d520edfb\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;width:177.77778%;height:100%;left:-65.17094%;top:0%\" data-leaf-element=\"true\"><amp-img layout=\"fill\" src=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/barandbench-import-2015-07-indira-jaising.avif\" alt=\"\" disable-inline-width=\"true\"><\/amp-img><\/div>\n<div class=\"element-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"page-background-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:9.46602%;top:65.85761%;width:80.82524%;height:31.39159%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-10107094-2885-4f68-b1f1-e57cb08d06c9\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:0;--initial-transform:none\">\n<div id=\"anim-f704c6f6-686b-48e7-a6d8-5af57ea94e73\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:1;--initial-transform:translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0;border-radius:0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% \/ 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463%\" id=\"el-1a49b4f3-dd1a-4b05-ade2-22e04e71c9c4\">\n<h3 class=\"fill text-wrapper\" style=\"white-space:pre-line;overflow-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;margin:0.5905405405405411% 0;font-family:&quot;Alegreya&quot;,serif;font-size:0.372168em;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;padding:0;color:#000000\"><span><span style=\"font-weight: 700; color: #fff\">Jaising submitted her recommendations while assisting the court as amicus curiae in the ongoing case of Nipun Saxena vs Union of India, a key case on gender and child rights<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><\/amp-story-page><amp-story-page id=\"f39e88bb-f1f2-44fd-9a04-b8500f3138fe\" auto-advance-after=\"7s\"><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-0e0d811c-5f57-42f1-80e1-37760655a5c7 [data-leaf-element=\\\"true\\\"]\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(-14.46153815937015%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)\",\"translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) 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class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:0;top:-9.25926%;width:100%;height:118.51852%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-0e0d811c-5f57-42f1-80e1-37760655a5c7\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0\" class=\"mask\" id=\"el-3310fe7b-4165-4cf3-9eb6-ebbc2305049f\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;width:238.09524%;height:100%;left:-103.66301%;top:0%\" data-leaf-element=\"true\"><amp-img layout=\"fill\" src=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/04smindira3.jpg\" alt=\"\" disable-inline-width=\"true\"><\/amp-img><\/div>\n<div class=\"element-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"page-background-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:9.46602%;top:65.85761%;width:80.82524%;height:31.39159%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-344c40af-7471-4fad-98e7-1e75e2b755c6\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:0;--initial-transform:none\">\n<div id=\"anim-eeefdd19-7932-48e9-8edb-e4b723eba5c1\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:1;--initial-transform:translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0;border-radius:0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% \/ 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463%\" id=\"el-bcc6abc7-1908-4dc7-89a1-8bd4b3bebc4c\">\n<h3 class=\"fill text-wrapper\" style=\"white-space:pre-line;overflow-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;margin:0.5905405405405411% 0;font-family:&quot;Alegreya&quot;,serif;font-size:0.372168em;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;padding:0;color:#000000\"><span><span style=\"font-weight: 700; color: #fff\">She argues against the blanket criminalisation of consensual sexual activity between adolescents aged 16 to 18, calling it unjust under the POCSO Act and Section 375 of IPC<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><\/amp-story-page><amp-story-page id=\"a7f61571-ac8d-4496-8ae2-d8909c0bac44\" auto-advance-after=\"7s\"><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-258835ab-f4ca-4da2-86f2-fbda415f18ca [data-leaf-element=\\\"true\\\"]\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(-43.74999965867719%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)\",\"translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)\"]},\"delay\":0,\"duration\":2000,\"fill\":\"forwards\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-10589388-b742-43ee-960b-451712fbb68a\",\"keyframes\":{\"opacity\":[0,1]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-b9f76392-5952-4371-ab3a-d3ca38b827d2\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\",\"translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)\"]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\" style=\"background-color:#1f2f3c\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:0;top:-9.25926%;width:100%;height:118.51852%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-258835ab-f4ca-4da2-86f2-fbda415f18ca\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0\" class=\"mask\" id=\"el-cac8de5d-462e-48f8-820d-7b1048f5d2af\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;width:177.77778%;height:100%;left:0%;top:0%\" data-leaf-element=\"true\"><amp-img layout=\"fill\" src=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ij-scaled.avif\" alt=\"\" disable-inline-width=\"true\"><\/amp-img><\/div>\n<div class=\"element-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"page-background-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:9.46602%;top:65.85761%;width:80.82524%;height:31.39159%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-10589388-b742-43ee-960b-451712fbb68a\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:0;--initial-transform:none\">\n<div id=\"anim-b9f76392-5952-4371-ab3a-d3ca38b827d2\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:1;--initial-transform:translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0;border-radius:0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% \/ 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463%\" id=\"el-6027a682-07c2-49fd-8b11-d637a88507c3\">\n<h3 class=\"fill text-wrapper\" style=\"white-space:pre-line;overflow-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;margin:0.5905405405405411% 0;font-family:&quot;Alegreya&quot;,serif;font-size:0.372168em;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;padding:0;color:#000000\"><span><span style=\"font-weight: 700; color: #fff\">Jaising urges that the law must acknowledge that adolescents can engage in consensual relationships, and not all such acts should be labelled as sexual offences<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><\/amp-story-page><amp-story-page id=\"7ae16693-4aba-472f-88bf-6301df711f0e\" auto-advance-after=\"7s\"><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-8fea488b-1675-4058-b54d-69253ca50f70 [data-leaf-element=\\\"true\\\"]\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)\",\"translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)\"]},\"delay\":0,\"duration\":2000,\"fill\":\"forwards\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-e64cb62a-39e7-48ee-86a2-eed8bb696123\",\"keyframes\":{\"opacity\":[0,1]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-1130fab9-3865-4e3c-8ece-d019a5396edd\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\",\"translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)\"]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\" style=\"background-color:#f1be59\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:0;top:-9.25926%;width:100%;height:118.51852%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-8fea488b-1675-4058-b54d-69253ca50f70\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0\" class=\"mask\" id=\"el-56ffee76-0dfa-428d-b241-a555b13643a6\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;width:316.04939%;height:100%;left:-108.02469%;top:0%\" data-leaf-element=\"true\"><amp-img layout=\"fill\" src=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/874604-sexassault.avif\" alt=\"\" disable-inline-width=\"true\"><\/amp-img><\/div>\n<div class=\"element-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"page-background-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:9.46602%;top:65.85761%;width:80.82524%;height:31.39159%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-e64cb62a-39e7-48ee-86a2-eed8bb696123\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:0;--initial-transform:none\">\n<div id=\"anim-1130fab9-3865-4e3c-8ece-d019a5396edd\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:1;--initial-transform:translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0;border-radius:0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% \/ 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463%\" id=\"el-cc00355c-f933-48b6-8fd4-fb0fe23fa3ef\">\n<h3 class=\"fill text-wrapper\" style=\"white-space:pre-line;overflow-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;margin:0.5905405405405411% 0;font-family:&quot;Alegreya&quot;,serif;font-size:0.372168em;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;padding:0;color:#000000\"><span><span style=\"font-weight: 700; color: #fff\">The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act currently treats anyone under 18 as incapable of consent \u2014 a stance Jaising says harms adolescent agency<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><\/amp-story-page><amp-story-page id=\"8d649a34-dc10-44d8-b25c-8414ed3389df\" auto-advance-after=\"7s\"><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-2b30f5bc-d107-4a04-8567-5b74b97fc77f [data-leaf-element=\\\"true\\\"]\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)\",\"translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)\"]},\"delay\":0,\"duration\":2000,\"fill\":\"forwards\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-8c2e92c3-a39b-4b73-8d93-e331f05b2968\",\"keyframes\":{\"opacity\":[0,1]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-da1ab5b8-231b-47fe-b3b8-689a5cd636be\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\",\"translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)\"]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\" style=\"background-color:#bdafa1\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:0;top:-9.25926%;width:100%;height:118.51852%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-2b30f5bc-d107-4a04-8567-5b74b97fc77f\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0\" class=\"mask\" id=\"el-7be3e033-1742-4e78-9910-5ce276d4de06\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;width:177.77778%;height:100%;left:-38.88889%;top:0%\" data-leaf-element=\"true\"><amp-img layout=\"fill\" src=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/pocso-2012.jpg\" alt=\"\" disable-inline-width=\"true\"><\/amp-img><\/div>\n<div class=\"element-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"page-background-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:9.46602%;top:65.85761%;width:80.82524%;height:31.39159%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-8c2e92c3-a39b-4b73-8d93-e331f05b2968\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:0;--initial-transform:none\">\n<div id=\"anim-da1ab5b8-231b-47fe-b3b8-689a5cd636be\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:1;--initial-transform:translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0;border-radius:0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% \/ 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463%\" id=\"el-f345aa2e-d937-44b6-b953-ede057f7bc9d\">\n<h3 class=\"fill text-wrapper\" style=\"white-space:pre-line;overflow-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;margin:0.5905405405405411% 0;font-family:&quot;Alegreya&quot;,serif;font-size:0.372168em;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;padding:0;color:#000000\"><span><span style=\"font-weight: 700; color: #fff\">The current law leads to prosecution even in cases of mutual consent, often criminalising teenage love and causing trauma to both parties and families<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><\/amp-story-page><amp-story-page id=\"a534ba4c-461d-4cd3-a573-05582c9b34df\" auto-advance-after=\"7s\"><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-c3be75c1-a3f1-4b88-8c9b-272f54e20e0b [data-leaf-element=\\\"true\\\"]\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)\",\"translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)\"]},\"delay\":0,\"duration\":2000,\"fill\":\"forwards\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-27e7f41c-488d-4687-914e-5feff9e48f80\",\"keyframes\":{\"opacity\":[0,1]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script type=\"application\/json\">[{\"selector\":\"#anim-32bab413-04a1-4a5c-9791-cdaedabcb03b\",\"keyframes\":{\"transform\":[\"translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\",\"translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)\"]},\"delay\":500,\"duration\":2500,\"easing\":\"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)\",\"fill\":\"both\"}]<\/script><\/amp-story-animation><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\" style=\"background-color:#322d2e\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:0;top:-9.25926%;width:100%;height:118.51852%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-c3be75c1-a3f1-4b88-8c9b-272f54e20e0b\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0\" class=\"mask\" id=\"el-dfb8e527-94aa-4ec6-83e8-577821125e74\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;width:118.51852%;height:100%;left:-9.25926%;top:0%\" data-leaf-element=\"true\"><amp-img layout=\"fill\" src=\"https:\/\/thedailyguardian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/advocate-indira-jaising.jpg\" alt=\"\" disable-inline-width=\"true\"><\/amp-img><\/div>\n<div class=\"element-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"page-background-overlay-area\" style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse 67% 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><amp-story-grid-layer template=\"vertical\" aspect-ratio=\"412:618\" class=\"grid-layer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"page-fullbleed-area\">\n<div class=\"page-safe-area\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;pointer-events:none;left:9.46602%;top:65.85761%;width:80.82524%;height:31.39159%;opacity:1\">\n<div id=\"anim-27e7f41c-488d-4687-914e-5feff9e48f80\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:0;--initial-transform:none\">\n<div id=\"anim-32bab413-04a1-4a5c-9791-cdaedabcb03b\" class=\"animation-wrapper\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;--initial-opacity:1;--initial-transform:translate3d(0px, -339.28979%, 0)\">\n<div style=\"pointer-events:initial;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:0;border-radius:0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% 0.6006006006006006% \/ 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463% 1.0309278350515463%\" id=\"el-7788d267-6d21-4016-9ea8-e96ada6018be\">\n<h3 class=\"fill text-wrapper\" style=\"white-space:pre-line;overflow-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;margin:0.5905405405405411% 0;font-family:&quot;Alegreya&quot;,serif;font-size:0.372168em;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;padding:0;color:#000000\"><span><span style=\"font-weight: 700; color: #fff\">Jaising&#8217;s argument is supported by psychological and social studies showing that 16-year-olds have the cognitive maturity to make consensual decisions in relationships<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/amp-story-grid-layer><\/amp-story-page><amp-story-page id=\"ff87c455-0d7d-4ac9-96e9-f1bccc31c754\" auto-advance-after=\"7s\"><amp-story-animation layout=\"nodisplay\" trigger=\"visibility\"><script 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