January 15th, 2025; Kochi, India - Mihir Ahammed. Fifteen-year-old Mihir, took his life because of ragging and bullying, and his mother was left with nothing but a pledge of vengeance. In a blink of an eye, Mihir was no longer alive. Barely an hour ...
Compliances Checklist: Mental Health Care Act, 2017
Checking key obligations for various stakeholders to uphold mental health rights INTRODUCTION The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (hereinafter, ‘Act’) was enacted to ensure a rights-based approach to mental health services in India. Th ...
Teaching Children about Bodily Autonomy
It could be challenging for parents and people from conservative cultures to talk openly about sex at home. They may feel that they don't know enough to initiate a discussion about it. They may also believe that young children shouldn't be taught ab ...
Origins of Mental Health Care Act, 2017
Why was the Mental Health Care Act, 2017 introduced? BACKGROUND: The Mental Health Care Act, 2017 is a landmark legislation enacted to provide comprehensive mental health care and services while safeguarding the rights of individuals with mental ...
Talking to Children About Sexting: A Guide for Parents
Introduction Sexting, the act of sharing sexually explicit messages or images electronically, has become increasingly prevalent among teenagers. For parents, discussing this sensitive topic with their children is crucial to ensure their saf ...
Identifying & Preventing Online Grooming
In 2018, Dr. Rakshit Tandon, Cyber Security Expert, toured multiple schools in Delhi and Gurgaon, giving workshops to children on cyber security in the up and coming age of advanced technology. He stood in front of these school kids aged 11-18, and ...
SC Introduces Doctrine of Constructive Possession; Watching Child Pornography Now Falls under the Ambit of Section 15, POCSO
Brief: Supreme Court interpreted possession to also include ‘constructive possession’ whereby even if a person does not physically possess child pornographic material but exercises immediate control over it, he/she will be said to be in “possession” ...
Offences of Rape and Child Sexual Abuse Cannot Be Viewed Through a Romantic Lens: SC Questions Calc HC’s Acquittal Order
Recently, the Indian Apex Court set aside an acquittal order of Calcutta High Court where the learned Division Bench had treated the adult accused’s physical relationship with a minor as non-exploitative sexual conduct”. The Hon’ble High Court’s att ...
Distinguishing Between A Surrogate Mother And A Natural Mother Would Result In Insulting Womanhood: Himachal Pradesh High Court
The Himachal Pradesh High Court, in the case of Sushma Devi v. State of Himachal Pradesh and Ors., was considering the question of whether a woman employed on a contract basis with the government is entitled to avail maternity leave even in cases wh ...
Kerala High Court held that it is for the woman to recognize and decide on recognition of fatherhood of child
Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live, says Norman Cousins Facts: The couple in this revision, John (Christian by faith) and Anitha (Hindu by faith) (names changed to protect their privacy ...
Daughter Is Caught In The Crossfire Of Acrimony And Matrimonial Discord Between Her Parents: Bombay High Court
In the matter of Vanisha v. XYZ & State of Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court on April 20, 2021, quashed the proceedings initiated by a mother (Respondent No. 1) under the provisions of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (D ...
Kerala High Court on termination of pregnancy by a minor beyond allowed limit for termination
The High Court of Kerala in the case of XXX vs. Union of India, State of Kerala, The Superintendent, Medical College Hospital Manjeri and The Superintendent, Medical College, Kozhikode, WP(C). No. 9982 OF 2021(W) held that the pregnancy in the case ...