The Supreme Court has told the Union government to add a 'Romeo-Juliet' clause in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. This clause will protect genuine teen relationships from criminal charges. It will stop families and others from using the law to "settle scores." Justice Sanjay Karol said, "POCSO cases filed at the behest of a girl’s family objecting to romantic involvement with a young boy have become commonplace and consequent thereto these young boys languish in jails." The court wants the judgment copy shared with the Union Law Secretary to help stop this problem. The court noted that misuse of the POCSO law is common. "When an instrument of such noble and... good intent is misused, misapplied and used as a tool for exacting revenge, the notion of justice itself teeters on the edge of inversion. Courts have in many cases sounded alarm regarding this situation," said Justice Karol. The court also pointed out the sharp gap between child victims of serious crimes covered under POCSO and those who abuse the law. Victims often stay silent due to fear, poverty, or stigma. Meanwhile, advantaged people with money and education manipulate the law. "Not only are instances rife where the age of the victim is misrepresented to make the incident fall under the stringent provisions of this law but also there are numerous instances where this law is used by families in opposition to relationships between young people," the court said. This judgment came from an appeal by Uttar Pradesh against a High Court order granting interim bail due to conflicting victim age records. The High Court ordered medical tests like ossification to check age. The Supreme Court said medical tests should be last after checking official documents, per the Juvenile Justice Act. Earlier rulings say courts must closely study the relationship's nature and both parties' intentions, and if it was "consensual and based on mutual affection." This guidance aims to handle consensual teen relationships fairly under the law.