Supreme Court rejects 'consensual relationship' argument in minor's rape case

The Supreme Court criticized a lawyer on March 20, 2025, for using the term "consensual relationship" in a bail plea for his client, who is accused of raping a minor girl. Justice Surya Kant expressed frustration, noting the lawyer mentioned "consensual relationship" multiple times in his petition. Justice Kant highlighted that consent does not matter when the survivor is a minor. He questioned the lawyer's understanding of the law, arguing that it is unacceptable to suggest any form of consent in such cases. The bench, which included Justice N Kotiswar Singh, pointed out the seriousness of the situation. The lawyer apologized for his comments during the proceedings. After the exchange, the court issued notices to the police and other parties regarding the bail plea.