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Sewa Nyaya Utthan Releases Landmark Research Against Supreme Court Petition Seeking to Legalise Teen Sex
The report titled ‘Intrusion on Civilisation’ includes a paper by Sanjeev Newar
August 10, 2025, New Delhi: A crucial national pushback unfolded at the Constitution Club of India as Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation, along with partner organisations, convened a round table to oppose a contentious plea before the Supreme Court seeking to reduce the legal age of sexual consent from 18 to 16.
The petition – argued by senior advocate Indira Jaising – challenges provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), claiming that current laws criminalise consensual adolescent relationships. She has proposed a “close-in-age” exception, citing a rise in POCSO cases involving 16–18-year-olds in, among others, “interfaith relationships”. Several High Courts have previously flagged concerns over automatic prosecutions in such cases.
The event saw the release of a comprehensive report titled ‘Intrusion on Civilization: Lowering the Age of Consent – Analysing Its Impact’, prepared by Network for Access to Justice and Multidisciplinary Outreach Foundation (NAMO), with Shanti Suraksha Aur Sadbhav Trust as Research Partner and Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation as Support Partner.
The event was graced by NHRC Member Shri Priyank Kanoongo as Chief Guest, and drew child rights activists, senior advocates, state child commission heads, educators and social leaders from across India, including representatives of Pasmanda Muslims and Scheduled Castes communities.
Sewa Nyaya Utthan’s Position
SNU co-founder Sanjeev Newar, also a Vedic scholar and IIT-IIM alumnus, argued that lowering the age will irreversibly harm India’s youth.
“Our children are not toys for lust experiments. At 16, they should become the next Shivaji or Lakshmibai – not characters in obscene filmy songs. Science proves early sexual activity damages both adolescents and their future children, physically and mentally.”
He added a blunt warning:
“We will not allow woke agendas to dominate Bharat.”
SNU co-founder Swati Goel Sharma warned that behind the legalese lies a powerful lobby determined to normalise the sexualisation of minors under the pretext of protecting teenage romance.
“This is a disaster in the making. Our comprehensive report dismantles the proposal on social, legal, ethical and scientific grounds.”
Priyank Kanoongo’s Stand
NHRC Member Shri Priyank Kanoongo, attending as Chief Guest, called such proposals an ”anti-development step” meant to derail Bharat’s moral and cultural foundations.
“Giving adolescents permission for sexual vice will only aid those who prey on them. It is our duty to oppose this in the interest of a developed and safe Bharat.”
The Report
The event saw the release of ‘Intrusion on Civilization: Lowering the Age of Consent – Analysing Its Impact’, a detailed rebuttal to the plea in the Supreme Court. It argues that Section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 already empowers Juvenile Justice Boards to distinguish between exploitative and peer-level relationships, ensuring fairness without dismantling protective laws.
National Mobilisation
At the round table, speakers stressed that lowering the age of consent would weaken child protection frameworks, embolden predators and accelerate the cultural erosion of childhood.
With Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation at the helm, the message was unequivocal: Bharat will not dilute its shield for children to appease activist lobbies or foreign-inspired agendas.
