Guwahati, Aug. 28 -- A panel of doctors, psychologists, legal experts, and child rights activists firmly opposed the proposal to reduce the legal age of consent from 18 to 16 years during a roundtable discussion held in New Delhi on Thursday.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo described the proposal as a "time bomb" that, if left unaddressed, could severely impact families and society.

At the roundtable titled 'Intrusion on Civilisation: Lowering the Age of Consent - Analysing its Impact', several medical professionals argued that 16-year-olds lack the neurological and psychological maturity to make informed decisions about sexual relationships. They warned that such decisions at a young age could lead to in...