The Supreme Court of India recently clarified the legal implications of possessing child pornographic material, noting that such possession constitutes a criminal offence.
This ruling emphasises that even if individuals do not distribute this material, merely having it on their devices can lead to severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines.In a significant ruling, the court explained the concept of "inchoate crime," which refers to actions that are criminal in nature and taken as a step toward committing a more serious offence.
The court's decision marks an important moment in Indian criminal law, as it underscores the need to address not only completed crimes but also preparatory actions that could lead to serious violations. Also read: You can't see me!
Meta AI bot in WhatsApp, Instagram to sound like John Cena in upcoming update The Supreme Court's ruling underscores that possessing child pornographic material, with the intent to keep or store it, falls under the definition of an inchoate crime.
This means that the law considers the intention behind the possession, even in the absence of any distribution. Thus, individuals may face legal repercussions for simply storing this content if it is done with a specific intention.During the 200-page judgement, a bench led by Chief Justice D.Y.