'That Was Bad Touch & He Should Be Punished': Accused Receives Imprisonment Following 9-Yr-Old's Statement In Court

A fifty-four-year-old man accused of molesting a nine-year-old boy was sentenced to five years of imprisonment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The special fast track court made the conviction after the boy told the court during the trial that he is well aware of 'good touch' and 'bad touch', and he knows that the accused touched him with a bad intention and deserves to be punished. As reported by Asianet News, the boy said in the court,

"That was bad touch. I learnt from school about 'good touch' and 'bad touch' and can differentiate between the two. The uncle is guilty and should be punished."

Following the boy's statement, judge R Jayakrishnan sentenced Manacaud Kaladi native Vijayakumar and also imposed a fine of ₹25,000. Failing to pay the fine, his imprisonment will be extended to six more months.

The Incident

The molestation happened on November 26, 2020, in the boy's residence in Thumba, Kerala, where the accused worked as domestic help, reported Asianet News. He forcefully caught hold of the boy and groped him. Having understood that it was bad to touch, the boy conveyed the matter to his parents and urged them to lodge a complaint. The court judgement also mentioned that the government should provide compensation to the boy, and if the accused is paying the fine, it will be given to the child.

Sex Education- A Necessity

Children are taught about various subjects happening in and around the world. However, not much is being taught about developments in their bodies and about sexuality. Sex education teaches students about the various aspect of sex and sexuality, and it also helps them differentiate between 'good touch and bad touch'. Many have been criticising giving sex education to students. There is a common misconception that sex education encourages students to have sex. However, it helps to remove ignorance about the physical, biological and social aspects relating to sex. It is a very important step towards leading students through the right way without jumping into danger.

The sex education given to the boy here helped him recognise that he was touched with a bad intention and was able to seek help. Many students are unaware of 'good touch' and 'bad touch' and thus are not able to realise when they are molested. Sex education is necessary to bring students up as better individuals with a better perspective on sex and sexuality.

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