The Supreme Court of Appeal has granted the State a stay order stopping proceedings in a case where two minors are challenging criminalising consensual sex involving minors.

The State is objecting to a decision by the High Court, sitting as a Constitutional Court, to allow five friends of the court to join the case.

The order by the Supreme Court means the objection has to be heard first before the Constitutional Court can proceed with the matter.

Two boys are challenging criminalisation of consensual sex among adolescents, targeting boys only.

One boy, 15, was arrested for having sex with his 13-year-old girlfriend while the other, 14, was arrested for having sex with his 15-year-old girlfriend.