The Delhi High Court recently pointed out that solely educating minors about 'good touch' and 'bad touch' may not adequately shield them from the dangers present in the virtual world.

The single-headed bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma emphasized the necessity of teaching minors about 'virtual touch' as well. This education entails instructing them on appropriate online conduct, recognizing signs of predatory behavior, and understanding the significance of privacy settings and online boundaries, the Court elucidated.a

“Just as children are taught to exercise caution in the physical world, efforts must be made taken to teach them to develop critical thinking skills to assess the credibility of online contacts and safeguard their personal information,” the single-judge said.

In response, she urged relevant stakeholders to incorporate material into school curricula concerning virtual touch, its consequences, and associated dangers.

The Court noted that in today's modern virtual world, where virtual space serves as a platform for alleged virtual affections among teenagers, these teenagers often lack the necessary skills to navigate the potential dangers, such as human trafficking for prostitution and other criminal activities, that exist in the virtual realm.

Justice Sharma issued the order while addressing a plea filed by Kamlesh Devi, who was accused of involvement in the kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl. Devi, the mother of Rajiv, a man who befriended the minor girl on social media, allegedly kidnapped her and kept her confined for several days.

It was also alleged that the girl was subjected to sexual assault and forced to marry a 45-year-old man in exchange for money. The minor also alleged that the accused persons used to bring various men to the premises where she was confined and she was forced to present herself to these men for sexual gratification.

The Court, after considering the case, denied bail to Devi. Additionally, it directed that the order be forwarded to the Delhi Judicial Academy and Delhi State Legal Services Authority for their information and compliance.

Advocates Amit Prasad, Rajeev Ranjan, Rishikesh Kumar, Ayodhya Prasad, Arpit Tripathi, Chanya Jaitley, Niaz Baldawala and Kavya Agarwal appeared for accused Kamlesh Devi.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Manoj Pant along with advocates Saurabh Das, Paramveer, Lalit Kumar and Ashok Kumar Shukla represented the Delhi Police.