The Supreme Court of India, in a significant ruling on January 9, 2026, unequivocally stated that while bail should not be refused mechanically, it must equally not be granted on irrelevant considerations or by ignoring material evidence. This observation came as a bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan set aside an Allahabad High Court judgment from April 9, 2025, which had granted bail to an accused in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case. The apex court found that the High Court had failed to adequately consider crucial factors, including the heinous nature and gravity of the offences, the statutory rigour under the provisions of the POCSO Act, the vulnerability of the minor victim, and the legitimate likelihood of witness intimidation or tampering with evidence. The case involved severe allegations of gang rape and repeated penetrative sexual assault on a minor, accompanied by armed intimidation and the recording of the acts for blackmail. The Supreme Court emphasized that such conduct has a devastating impact on the victim's life and shakes society's collective conscience. It reiterated that the POCSO Act is a beneficial legislation enacted to safeguard children from sexual offences, requiring prompt and sensitive handling of its proceedings. This ruling underscores the paramount importance of victim safety and the integrity of the trial process when adjudicating bail applications in sensitive cases involving child sexual assault. Separately, another Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and N. Kotiswar Singh, around the same time (January 10, 2026), suggested that the Union government consider introducing a 'Romeo-Juliet' clause in the POCSO Act. This suggestion aims to prevent the criminalisation of genuine consensual adolescent relationships, acknowledging concerns about the misuse of the Act to settle personal scores. This indicates a broader judicial discussion around balancing child protection with the realities of adolescent autonomy and relationships.