India, Aug. 6 -- The Bombay High Court on Wednesday discharged a 19-year-old student from the charge of sexual harassment in a case filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The 19-year-old has been accused of following, slapping and abusing a 17-year-old girl. The court held that the allegations stemmed out of a school-related altercation and did not disclose any "sexual intent" necessary to invoke the stringent legislation.

A single-judge bench of Justice Shivkumar Dige, however, directed that the teenager continue to face trial for offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including charges of stalking, insulting the modesty of a woman, and voluntarily causing hurt.

The court was hearing a petition fi...