Authors:
Vallimireddy Abhinav Deep Dora, Bhagavatula Naga Sai Sriram, Koneru Kalapana, Munjeti Santosh Raju

Addresses:
Vignan Institute of Law, Vignan Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. School of Law and Management, Vignan Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Abstract:

The Romeo and Juliet clause represents a nuanced legal mechanism designed to address the intersection between child protection and adolescent autonomy. This research paper examines the global jurisprudential landscape surrounding age-of-consent exceptions, the human rights dimensions of statutory rape laws, and the emerging discourse in India regarding the potential introduction of such clauses. Through a comparative analysis of jurisdictions, including the United States, Europe, and other regions, this paper argues that while Romeo and Juliet clauses serve important protective functions by preventing the criminalization of consensual peer relationships, their implementation must remain grounded in robust human rights protections against genuine exploitation. The paper further explores the Supreme Court of India’s recent observations on the misuse of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the ongoing debate over whether India should adopt a modified version of the Romeo and Juliet clause to balance adolescent development with child protection imperatives.

Keywords: Human Rights; Adolescent Sexuality; Comparative Jurisprudence; Genuine Exploitation; Child Protection; Adolescent Autonomy; Romeo and Juliet Clause.

Received on: 23/07/2025, Revised on: 28/09/2025, Accepted on: 15/11/2025, Published on: 05/06/2026

DOI: 10.69888/FTSPL.2026.000682

FMDB Transactions on Sustainable Public and Law, 2026 Vol. 1 No. 2, Pages: 89-96

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