The Supreme Court of India has directed schools to educate children about safe and unsafe touch, bodily autonomy and consent from the primary stage, while requiring teachers and school staff to receive training to identify grooming, sexual abuse and online harassment.
A Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran issued the directions in Just Rights for Children Alliance & Anr. v. S. Harish & Ors., while examining measures to prevent the circulation of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) online.
The Court emphasised that digital safety education and age-appropriate sex education must be treated as interconnected aspects of child protection, extending beyond online platforms to children's everyday lives.
Digital Safety and Consent to Become Part of School Curriculum
The Court directed the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs) to develop age-appropriate educational material in consultation with child psychologists, educators and parenting experts.
The curriculum is expected to address bodily autonomy, consent, healthy relationships, online privacy, grooming, sexual extortion and methods of reporting abuse. The Court also stressed that children must be encouraged to report inappropriate conduct without fear of punishment or humiliation.
Teachers Must Be Trained to Recognise Grooming and Abuse
The Court directed that teaching and non-teaching staff receive appropriate training to recognise signs of grooming, abuse and online harassment. Staff must also understand their responsibilities when a child discloses abuse, including applicable reporting obligations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
The directions highlight the importance of responding to disclosures sensitively, preserving the child's confidentiality and ensuring that reports reach the appropriate authorities.
Schools Directed to Display Child-Protection Helplines
The Court directed educational institutions to display child-protection and cybercrime reporting information in classrooms, hostels, libraries and computer laboratories, as well as on their websites. The specified information includes Child Helpline 1098, Cyber Crime Helpline 1930, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and details of relevant state-level nodal officers.
Schools and educational institutions were also directed to implement proportionate content-filtering measures on their devices and networks to reduce children's exposure to harmful online material.
Parents, Governments and Online Platforms Also Have Responsibilities
The Court called for regular awareness programmes for parents and guardians concerning parental controls, online risks and signs of distress in children. It also directed governments and child-rights commissions to conduct sustained public-awareness campaigns and establish mechanisms providing victims with free counselling, psychological support and therapy for as long as necessary.
Online intermediaries were directed to remind children about platform safety features and to display appropriate warnings when children attempt to interact with unknown adults or search for terms associated with CSEAM.
Significance for Child Protection and Cybercrime Prevention
The directions underscore the need for a coordinated approach to preventing child sexual exploitation, combining education, early identification, reporting mechanisms, technological safeguards and victim support.
From a legal and forensic perspective, teacher training and sensitive responses to disclosures are particularly important. Early reporting can help authorities initiate timely investigations, preserve relevant digital evidence and identify potential offenders. Any subsequent criminal investigation must nevertheless follow lawful evidence-collection procedures and protect the privacy and dignity of the child.
The Court directed the Union Government to submit an affidavit detailing progress in implementing the measures by the next hearing, scheduled for December 10, 2026.
Case: Just Rights for Children Alliance & Anr. v. S. Harish & Ors.