The Bombay High Court has quashed a POCSO case after the complainant, who was a minor at the time of the alleged incident, her mother and the accused expressed willingness to end the criminal proceedings. In an unusual move, the court directed the three to jointly pay Rs 3 lakh to the Goa Bar Association towards training programmes and related expenses.

Justice Amit S Jamsandekar was hearing a plea filed by the 23-year-old man, who sought to quash the FIR, chargesheet and criminal proceedings under the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences ( POCSO ) Act after the girl’s mother lodged a complaint in 2023, alleging that he had a physical relationship with her daughter, who was allegedly 17.5 years old at the time.

“The petitioner (man) and the respondent number 2 and 3 (daughter and mother) shall jointly pay Rs 3 lakh as costs to the Goa Bar Association within a period of one week from today.…