Sex education should be provided to children from a
younger age, and not Class IX onwards, the Supreme Court has said.
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe
said sex education should be part of the curriculum in higher secondary schools
so that young adolescents are made aware of the hormonal changes that come with
puberty.
"We are of the opinion that sex education
should be provided to children from a younger age and not Class IX onwards. It
is for the authorities concerned to apply their mind and take corrective
measures, so that children are informed of the changes that happen after
puberty, and the care and cautions to be taken in relation thereto," the
bench said.
The top court made the observations while granting
bail to a 15-year-old boy accused of offences under sections 376 (rape) and 506
(criminal intimidation) of the IPC, and Section 6 (aggravated penetrative
sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The apex court earlier directed his release on bail
subject to terms and conditions to be fixed by the Juvenile Justice Board,
noting that he was a minor.