Chennai, Aug. 2 -- The Madras High Court has observed that whistling at a minor girl and pulling her hand cannot automatically be treated as sexual harassment or sexual assault.

The court made the observation while suspending the three-year prison sentence awarded to a man by a special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

What the Madras High Court said

Justice M. Nirmal Kumar noted that the allegations against the petitioner were that he whistled at the girl from a balcony. When she did not respond, he came downstairs and pulled her hand. The girl then freed herself and informed her mother about the incident.

After examining the statements of witnesses and the available records, the court observed ...