India, Jan. 7 -- New Delhi

The Delhi High Court has held that compelling a minor to touch another person's genitalia with sexual intent constitutes aggravated sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012.

The court delivered the verdict on a man's petition against a trial court's July 2024 order, convicting and sentencing him to seven years under Section 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of the Pocso Act for flashing a four-year-old girl and making her touch his genitalia in June 2022.

"Making a small child touch the private part with sexual intent amounts to aggravated sexual assault and therefore, the offence under Section 10 POCSO Act, was established," a bench of justice Neena B...