Child pornography videos: strictness of supreme Court?
The supreme court has given a verdict that can become a new standard for action in pornography cases. The court said that if you watch, keep or do not give information about keeping any child pornography video, then it will be a crime under POCSO and IT Act. Even if you do not send it to anyone further. This decision not only overturns a controversial decision of the madras high court, but it is also a stern warning to potential criminals.
If you have somehow got hold of a video of child pornography, some people may think, 'Hey, it's just in my phone. No harm, no mistake, right?' Wrong! The supreme court has said that if you have such videos, even if you have accidentally forgotten it, you can get into legal trouble.
In fact, earlier this year, the madras high court had quashed a criminal case against a person whose phone had pornographic videos of children. The high court had said that merely possessing the video does not constitute a crime under POCSO or IT Act. This decision was quite worrying as it created a loophole through which people could escape only on the basis that they did not further disseminate pornographic videos of children. The high court did not understand the seriousness of child exploitation.
The supreme court dismissed this decision of the high court, terming it a 'serious mistake' and corrected a major mistake. Now the case of the accused will be tried in the Mahila court of Tiruvallur district. The Chief Justice said that sexual exploitation of children cannot be tolerated in any way.
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