Downloading, storing and watching child pornography is an offence under the POCSO Act, the Supreme Court of India ruled out on Monday setting aside a Madras High Court order, which said that downloading and viewing such content is not punishable.
The High Court on January 11 had cancelled the criminal proceedings against a man from Chennai who was charged with downloading pornographic content involving children on his mobile phone.
The Supreme Court’s Monday order came after it heard a plea filed by a coalition of NGOs which was represented by a senior advocate.