NEW DELHI: In a rare case, the Supreme Court has exercised its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to quash POCSO proceedings against a man for entering into sexual relationship with a girl, then a minor, and later marrying her, saying "the crime was not the result of lust but love".

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and A G Masih noted that the wife (victim) has stated that she was married to the man (convict), and they have a one-year-old boy and are now leading a happy life with the father of the girl also wishing that the criminal proceedings against her daughter’s husband be brought to an end.

The bench said, "We are conscious of the fact that a crime is not merely a wrong against an individual but against society as a whole. When an offence is committed, it wound

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