Rape in India

Rape is the fourth most common crime against women in India.[1][2] According to the 2019 annual report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 32033 rape cases were registered across the country, or an average of 88 cases daily,[3]slightly lower than 2018 when 91 cases were registered daily.[4]Of these, 30,165 rapes were committed by perpetrators known to the victim (94.2 % of cases),[5] a high number similar to 2018.[6] The share of victims who were minors or below 18 - the legal age of consent - stood at 15.4%,[5] down from 27.8% in 2018.[7] On the other hand, rapes by juveniles remained high in India with 3 minors being arrested for rape, assault and attempted violence on women and girls each day in 2019.[8]

India has been characterised as one of the "countries with the lowest per capita rates of rape".[9][10][11][12] The government also classifies consensual sex committed on the false promise of marriage as rape.[13] The willingness to report rapes have increased in recent years, after several incidents received widespread media attention and triggered local and nationwide public protests.[14][15][16][17][18] This led the government to reform its penal code for crimes of rape and sexual assault.[19]

According to NCRB 2019 statistics, Rajasthan[5] reported the highest number of rapes among Indian states.[20] Other states in the hindi heartland region, across North India, such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Chhattisgarh, also have the highest incidence of sexual violence against women.[21]Among metropolitan cities, the national capital of Delhi continued to have the highest incidence of rape at 1253 cases in 2019,[22][23]while Jaipur had the highest rape rate (per 100,000 population).[5][24]

Definition in Indian Penal Code

Annual rape and all forms of sexual assaults per 100,000 people, for India compared to select nations[25][26]

Before 3 February 2013, Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code defined rape as:[27]

§375. Rape. A man is said to commit "rape" who, except case hereinafter excepted, has sexual intercourse[28] with a woman in circumstances falling under any of the six following descriptions:-

Firstly. –– Against her will.

Secondly. –– Without her consent.

Thirdly. –– With her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her or any person in whom she is interested, in fear of death or of hurt.

Fourthly. –– With her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband, and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married.

Fifthly. –– With her consent, when, at the time of giving such consent, by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication or the administration by him personally or through another of any stupefying or unwholesome substance, she is unable to understand the nature and consequences of that to which she gives consent.

Sixthly. –– With or without her consent, when she is under sixteen[29] years of age.

Explanation. –– Penetration is sufficient to constitute the sexual intercourse necessary to the offence of rape.

Exception. –– Sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age, is not rape.

The above definition excluded marital rape, same sex crimes and considered all sex with a minor below the age of sixteen as rape.

After 3 February 2013, the definition was revised through the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, which also raised the legal age of minor to eighteen.[30]

§375. A man is said to commit "rape" if he:–– (a) penetrates his penis, to any extent, into the vagina, mouth, urethra or anus of a woman or makes her to do so with him or any other person; or (b) inserts, to any extent, any object or a part of the body, not being the penis, into the vagina, the urethra or anus of a woman or makes her to do so with him or any other person; or (c) manipulates any part of the body of a woman so as to cause penetration into the vagina, urethra, anus or any part of body of such woman or makes her to do so with him or any other person; or (d) applies his mouth to the vagina, anus, urethra of a woman or makes her to do so with him or any other person, under the circumstances falling under any of the following seven descriptions:

Firstly. –– Against her will.

Secondly. –– Without her consent.

Thirdly. –– With her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her or any person in whom she is interested, in fear of death or of hurt.

Fourthly. –– With her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married.

Fifthly. –– With her consent when, at the time of giving such consent, by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication or the administration by him personally or through another of any stupefying or unwholesome Substance, she is unable to understand the nature and consequences of that to which she gives consent.

Sixthly. –– With or without her consent, when she is under eighteen years of age.

Seventhly. –– When she is unable to communicate consent.

Explanation 1. –– For the purposes of this section, "vagina" shall also include labia majora.

Explanation 2. –– Consent means an unequivocal voluntary agreement when the woman by words, gestures or any form of verbal or non-verbal communication, communicates willingness to participate in the specific sexual act;

Provided that a woman who does not physically resist to the act of penetration shall not by the reason only of that fact, be regarded as consenting to the sexual activity. Exceptions –– 1. A medical procedure or intervention shall not constitute rape; 2. Sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age, is not rape.

Even after the 2013 reform, marital rape when the wife and husband live together continued not to be a crime in India. Article 376B of the 2013 law made forced sexual intercourse by a man with his wife – if she is living separately – a crime, whether under a decree of separation or otherwise, punishable with at least a 2-year prison term.[19] Forced sex by a man on his wife may also be considered a prosecutable domestic violence under other sections of Indian Penal code, such as Section 498(A) as well as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005.[31] The crime of sexual assault on a child, that is anyone below the age of eighteen, is further outlined and mandatory punishments described in The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012.[32]

As CNN reported in 2020, a man convicted of raping a woman faces a minimum 10-year prison sentence. This may increase to a life sentence or even a death sentence depending on the circumstances and details of the crime. If the victim is transgender, however, the rapist is punished by a maximum of two years in prison, as defined by the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019.[33]

All sexual acts between the members of the same sex, consensual or forced, was previously a crime under Section 377 of Indian penal code, after the 2013 Criminal Law reform, with punishment the same as that of rape[34] but it was later overturned in a landmark judgement of the Supreme Court on 6 September 2018 which stated all consensual sexual acts between adults who have met the age of consent are not violative of Section 377, hence decriminalizing gay sex in India.[35][36]

Rape statistics

Reported Rape rates per 100,000 population 2010-2012.

One rape was reported every 16 minutes in India in 2019.[37]This figure was 15 minutes in 2018.[38] In 2019, the national average rape rate (per 1,00,000 population) was 4.9, slightly less than 5.2 in 2018 and 2017. However, the small dip may be attributed to data for West Bengal not being available. As of 2019, Nagaland (0.8), Tamil Nadu (1.0), and Bihar (1.3) had the lowest rape rates among the states of India, while Rajasthan (15.9) had the highest rape rate. These statistics do not take into account rapes ending in murder and attempts to rape, which are counted separately by police in India.

Registered rape cases (victim/complainant reached police station) in 2019
State/UTTotal rape cases registered(2019)Adult(18 yrs & above)Minor(below 18 yrs)2019 Rape rate(%)(per 1,00,000 pop.)Annual change in Rape rate (2018-19)Annual change in absolute no. of rape cases registered(2018-19)
India320332709349404.9-0.3-1323
Andhra Pradesh10865425444.20.5115
Arunachal Pradesh6339248.6-0.7-4
Assam177316858810.50.6125
Bihar73072911.30.279
Chhattisgarh1036103337.2-7.5-1055
Goa7223499.41.411
Gujarat52852801.6-0.1-25
Haryana14801472810.91.2184
Himachal Pradesh359162197100.415
Jammu and Kashmir223212113.5-1.5-97
Jharkhand141612281887.71.7326
Karnataka50550501.60.113
Kerala2023761126211.10.478
Madhya Pradesh2485248506.2-7.6-2948
Maharashtra2299229903.90.2157
Manipur3626102.3-1.1-16
Meghalaya10282206.30.815
Mizoram4219237.1-1.4-8
Nagaland8620.8-0.2-2
Odisha138211512316.2.1464
Punjab10025764267.11.2171
Rajasthan59974684131315.94.21662
Sikkim111103.5-1.6-5
Tamil Nadu362353910.131
Telangana60660604.71.4267
Tripura888804.5-0.5-9
Uttar Pradesh306528952702.8-0.9-881
Uttarakhand5263421849.6-0.8-35
West Bengal1069106542.300
Andaman and Nicobar Islands13587-9.1-17
Chandigarh112476520.74.626
Dadra and Nagar Haveli0000-3.2-7
Daman and Diu4403.10.71
Delhi12531253013.50.238
Lakshadweep0000-6.1-2
Puducherry101001.31.310
  • Due to non-receipt of data from West Bengal in time for 2019, data furnished for 2018 has been used

Sources : [5] [6]

Rape of minors

Using a small sample survey, Human Rights Watch projects more than 7,200 minors – 1.6 in 100,000 minors – are raped each year in India. Among these, victims who do report the assaults are alleged to suffer mistreatment and humiliation from the police.[39] Minor girls are trafficked into prostitution in India, thus rape of minors conflates into a lifetime of suffering.[40] Of the countries studied by Maplecroft on sex trafficking and crime against minors, India was ranked 7th worst.[40]

Incidence of forced marriage and kidnapping of minors (girls) in 2019
State/UTKidnapping & Abduction of Women to compel her for marriage (Section. 366 IPC)Procuration of Minor Girls (Section 366A IPC)
India156153117
Andhra Pradesh6548
Arunachal Pradesh26
Assam4661415
Bihar44821
Chhattisgarh4202
Goa10
Gujarat5550
Haryana178808
Himachal Pradesh1523
Jammu and Kashmir120
Jharkhand164302
Karnataka1558
Kerala3020
Madhya Pradesh153222
Maharashtra79630
Manipur1336
Meghalaya122
Mizoram00
Nagaland01
Odisha7454
Punjab11881
Rajasthan42013
Sikkim00
Tamil Nadu18399
Telangana28574
Tripura5310
Uttar Pradesh40290
Uttarakhand210
West Bengal45592
  • Due to non-receipt of data from West Bengal in time for 2019, data furnished for 2018 has been used

Sources : [5]

Estimates of unreported rapes

Most rapes go unreported because the rape victims fear retaliation and humiliation, both in India and throughout the world.[41] Indian parliamentarians have stated that the rape problem in India is being underestimated because many cases are not reported, even though more victims are increasingly coming out and reporting rape and sexual assaults.[42]

Few states in India have tried to estimate or survey unreported cases sexual assault. The estimates for unreported rapes in India vary widely. The National Crime Records Bureau report of 2006 mentions that about 71% rape crimes go unreported.[43] Marital rape is not a criminal act in India[44] though sexual intercourse with wife aged between 15 and 18 years is considered as rape.[45] Madiha Kark estimates 54% of rape crimes are unreported.[46] A UN study of 57 countries estimates just 11% of rape and sexual assault cases worldwide are ever reported.[47]

Convictions

Verdicts in Delhi Rape Cases, 2013[48]

About one in four rape cases in India result in convictions.[49]

Conviction rates
Year Rate (%)
1973 44.3[50]
1983 37.7[50]
2009 26.9[50]
2010 26.6[50]
2011 26.4[50]
2012 24.2[49]
2013 27.1[49]
2017 32.2[51]
2018 27.2[51]
2019 27.8[52]

Notable incidents

Ajmer rape case

In 1992, the Ajmer rape case was one of India's biggest cases of coerced sexual exploitation, with more than a hundred underage schoolgirls estimated to have been sexually molested and raped. Most accused were from the Ajmer Dargah of Moinuddin Chishti.[53][54]

2012 Delhi Gang rape case

People silently marching to protest with candlelight at Salt Lake City in Kolkata after the female victim's death on 29 December 2012
People in Bangalore protesting outside Bangalore Town Hall on 30 December 2012 demanding justice for the 23-year-old student who was gang-raped in Delhi on 16 December 2012

The gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a public bus, on 16 December 2012, sparked large protests across the capital Delhi.[17] She was with a male friend who was severely beaten with an iron rod during the incident.[55] This same rod was used to penetrate her so severely that the victim's intestines had to be surgically removed, before her death thirteen days after the attack.[56]

The following day, there was an uproar in the Indian parliament over the incident. MPs in both houses had set aside their regular business to discuss the case and demanded strict punishment for those who carried out the attack. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, demanded that "the rapists should be hanged".[57] Thousands of people, mostly young, participated in a massive demonstration on 22 December in protest.[58] Police arrested six men suspected of rape.[59]

2013 Mumbai gang rape

In August 2013, a 22-year-old photojournalist, who was interning with an English-language magazine in Mumbai, was gang-raped by five persons, including a juvenile, when she had gone to the deserted Shakti Mills compound, near Mahalaxmi in South Mumbai, with a male colleague on an assignment. This caused protests throughout the country since Mumbai with its very active nightlife was previously considered a safe haven for women. The city sessions court found the accused guilty and sentenced death penalty to the three repeat offenders in the Shakti Mills gang rape case, making them the first in the country to get the death sentence stipulated under the newly enacted Section 376E of the Indian Penal Code.[60]

Ranaghat case

On 14 March 2015, a 71-year-old nun was gang-raped in Ranaghat, West Bengal by intruders at the Convent of Jesus and Mary.[61] The six intruders were recorded on CCTV during their crime of ransacking the chapel, destroying religious items, looting cash and the gang rape. Six men were arrested and charged with the crime by 1 April 2015, and identified to be Bangladeshi Muslims.[62]

Delta Meghwal rape case

On 29 March 2016, the corpse of Delta Meghwal, a 17 year old Dalit girl, was found in her hostel's water tank. Following the registration of the police case the hostel warden, physical education teacher and principal were arrested by Bikaner police and kept under judicial custody.[63] The State eventually acceded to a CBI inquiry after the issue became politicised.[64]

Kathua rape case

On 17 January 2018, Asifa, an 8-year old minor girl, was raped and murdered in Rasana village near Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident made national news when charges were filed against eight men in April 2018. The arrests of the accused led to protests from groups, one of which was attended by two ministers from the Bharatiya Janata Party, both of whom have now resigned. The rape and murder, as well as the support the accused received, sparked widespread outrage.[65][66][67]

Unnao rape case

The Unnao rape case saw an allegation that lawmaker Kuldeep Singh Sengar had raped a 17-year old girl in 2017.[68][69] In 2018, the alleged victim's father was jailed under the Arms Act, and died in prison after being allegedly beaten up by Sengar's brother and several others.[70] Also in 2018, a witness to the alleged assault, Yunus, died and was immediately buried by his family with no autopsy and no communication to police or investigators. Yunus' wife and family said Yunus had been ill and died a natural death.[71] The uncle of the alleged victim was arrested and jailed in 2018 due to an 18 year old gun-firing case.[72] In 2019, a truck with blackened license plates hit the car in which the alleged victim and others were riding in. As a result, the victim's paternal and maternal aunts were killed. The alleged victim and her lawyer were critically injured. The police officers assigned to provide security for the alleged victim were not present, with the explanation that there was no space in the car in which the alleged victim was travelling in.[70]

Jammu and Kashmir

There have been allegations of rape and mass rape in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports have shown that rape has been carried out by both Indian armed forces and Islamist militant groups.[73][74]

The rapes by Islamic militants have been reported since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. On 22 October 1947, Pashtun militants invaded Baramulla in a Pakistan army truck, and raped women including European nuns.[75] In March 1990, Mrs. M. N. Paul, the wife of a BSF inspector was kidnapped, tortured and gang-raped for many days. Then her body with broken limbs was abandoned on a road.[76]

The International Commission of Jurists have stated that though the attacks had not been proven beyond a doubt, there was credible evidence that it had happened.[77] In 2011, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) asked for the reopening of the case.[78]

Militant organisations such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat ul-Ansar have been accused of carrying out rapes.[73] The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front has been accused of ethnic cleansing of using murder, arson, and rape as a weapon of war to drive out hundreds of thousands of Hindu Kashmiri Pandits from the region.[79][80] Following the rise of rapes by the Indian armed forces and militants, HRW has submitted that the victims of raper suffer ostracism and there is a "code of silence and fear" that prevents people from reporting such abuse. According to the HRW, the investigation of case of rape by Indian forces and militants is difficult because many Kashmiris are reluctant to discuss it for the fear of violent reprisals.[81]

Northeast India

Human rights groups allege that the Indian armed forces under the protection of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 have carried out a large amount of rapes in the Nagaland, Assam and Manipur provinces.[82] Karlsson writes that there are reports that much of the violence against civilians, including sexual assault, is inflicted by the rebel groups and armed criminal gangs in the region.[82]

Uttar Pradesh

There is wide discrepancy among reports of rape and sexual assault. For example, according to the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), the majority of those assaulted in 2007 were poor women from remote areas and Dalits. SR Darapuri of the PUCL alleged, "I analysed the rape figures for 2007 and I found that 90% of victims were Dalits and 85% of Dalit rape victims were underage girls."[83] Darapuri allegations do not match with the data compiled by National Crime Records Bureau of India, which found 6.7% of rape and sexual assault victims were Dalits in 2007, where nearly 16% of Indian population is classified as Dalit.[84] There were 391 cases of rape of Dalit victims reported in Uttar Pradesh in 2013 or about 1 per 100,000 Dalits in the state of about 200 million people (21% of which is classified as Dalit).[85]

During riots

In recent years, variety of rapes have taken place during the communal riots. During the post 2002 Godhra train burning, in the certain parts of Gujarat, rape was carried out by rioters.[86] Thirteen rape and assault cases were reported during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.[87]

The partition of India

During the partition of India, some 100,000 women claimed to have been kidnapped and raped.[88][89]

Disputed rape cases

Potential abuse concerns

In April 2013, Judge Virender Bhat has suggested that the legal proposition of relying upon the sole attestation of the victim became "an easy weapon" to incriminate anyone in rape case.[90] Justice Kailash Ghambhir of the Delhi High Court stated that penal provisions for rape are often being misused by women as a "weapon for vengeance and vendetta" to harass and blackmail their male friends by filing false cases to extort money and to force them get married.[91] Saamna, the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena in an editorial noted while supporting the Deputy Inspector General Of Police in Mumbai in an alleged rape complaint that it has become "a fashion to create sensation by charging someone for rape and molestation"[92] while Shonee Kapoor, founder of Sahodar Men's Right Group, demanded that the name of the accused should not be made public till conviction.[93]

In 2014, as per a report submitted by Delhi Commission for women 53% of reported rapes in 2012-13 were found to be 'false'. This report considered the cases that were dropped before going to trial as false, and failed to differentiate between the cases dropped due to coercion and cases where it was clear that women were lying.[94]

According to an investigation by the The Hindu that only considered the cases that went to full trial found that out of 460 such cases in Delhi district courts in 2013, only 2% (12) were found to committed by strangers. 41% (189) of these cases were filed by parents to criminalize and end consented sexual relationships, 24% (109) were filed under 'breach of promise to marry' and 30% (141) were found to be committed by acquaintances and relatives.[48]

Notable cases

In 1991, the 4 Rajputana Rifles unit are alleged to have entered the village of Kunan Poshpora and raped between 30 and 100 women aged between 13 and 70.[95][96] The Indian government carried out three inquiries into the allegations and concluded that it had been a hoax.[97]

In May 2014 two girls aged 14 and 16 were allegedly gang raped and murdered in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, though later investigations have alleged suicide as the cause of death in this instance. Two police officers were suspected of involvement in the crimes.[18] The alleged gang rape was widely reported in the press both in India and globally.[98]

Tourist advisories

Rape cases against internationals have led several countries to issue travel advisories that "women travellers should exercise caution when travelling in India even if they are travelling in a group; avoid hailing taxis from streets or using public transport at night, and to respect local dress codes and customs and avoid isolated areas".[99]

In March 2013, a Swiss couple who were cycling from Orchha to Agra, decided to camp for a night in a village in Datia District. There they were physically assaulted by eight locals, robbed, the man was overpowered and tied up, while the 39-year-old woman was gang-raped in front of her husband at the village.[100][101] The Swiss government issued a travel advisory in 2013 about the "increasing numbers of rapes and other sexual offences" happening in India.[102]

The news coverage of the rapes and updated travel advisories have worried Indian tourism industry.[103][104] Some media reports stated that high-profile rape cases had led to tourist numbers to drop 20 to 30 per cent compared to previous year. The Assocham agency found that of 1200 businesses surveyed more than 70% reported cancellations by female tourists from Britain, Canada, the U.S. and Canada along with a 25% decline overall.[105] However, tourist arrivals in India increased from 6.5 million arrivals in 2012 to 6.8 million arrivals in 2013.[106] Tourist arrivals in 2014 observed another 10% increase over 2013 levels.[107]

In January 2015, the Tourism Ministry of India introduced emergency helplines for female tourists.[108] The Indian government announced in April 2015, that tourists are now being given a "welcome card" by the immigration officer on arrival with resources to ensure their safety, that GPS-embedded tracking system are being introduced in all taxis, and tourist helplines in 12 foreign languages have been instituted.[109]

In a non-tourism related case, Russia issued travel advisory to its citizens after a Russian national was raped in December 2009.[110] The case was widely covered after a member of Indian parliament Shantaram Laxman Naik blamed the victim and the media for over emphasising the Russian rape case after, "she was raped by a state politician in his car after they had dinner together".[111] Naik was criticised by leaders of Indian political parties such as CPI-M, BJP and SP for blaming the rape victim and media.[111]

The Indian law prior to the Nirbhaya Incident took into account only acts of penile-vaginal intercourse within the definition of rape and forcible acts of penetration of vagina, mouth, urethra or anus through penis or an inanimate object did not fall within the definition of rape. Many rapists were not prosecuted because there was no law to punish such acts.[30] The definition was expanded in 2013 to consider rape as any acts like penetration by penis, or any object or any part of body to any extent, into the vagina, mouth, urethra or anus of a woman or making her to do so with another person or applying of mouth to sexual organs without the consent or will of the woman constitutes the offence of rape.[112]

The section has also clarified that penetration means "penetration to any extent", and lack of physical resistance is immaterial for constituting an offence. Except in certain aggravated situation the punishment will be imprisonment not less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine. In aggravated situations, punishment will be rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.[112]

Section 53A of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Indian law lays down certain provisions for medical examination of the accused.[113] Section 164A of the Code of Criminal Procedure deals with the medical examination of the victim.[114]

The revised statutes of 2013 Indian law, in section 376A, mandates minimum punishment in certain cases. For instance, if the sexual assault inflicts an injury which causes death or causes the victim to be in a persistent vegetative state, then the convicted rapist must be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of at least twenty years and up to the remainder of the natural life or with a death penalty."[112][31] In the case of "gang rape", the same mandatory sentencing is now required by law.[31] The convicted is also required to pay compensation to the victim which shall be reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim, and per Section 357 B in the Code of Criminal Procedure. Death penalty for the most extreme rape cases is specified.[31]

The 2013 law also increased the age of consent from 16 years to 18 years, and any sexual activity with anyone less than age of 18, irrespective of consent, now constitutes statutory rape.[31]

The new law has made it mandatory for all government and privately run hospitals in India to give free first aid and medical treatment to victims of rape.[115]

As well, in May 2013, the Supreme Court of India held that the two-finger test on a rape victim violates her right to privacy, and asked the Delhi government to provide better medical procedures to confirm sexual assault.[116][117]

On 3 November 2015 the Allahabad High Court observed that a child born out of rape will have inheritance rights over the property of the assaulter and will be treated as illegitimate,[118] however if the child is taken for adoption then he/she will not have any rights on the property of the biological father.[119][120]

National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO)

The government on September 20, 2018 launched the National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO). The database contains entries of offenders convicted under charges of rape, gang rape, POCSO and eve teasing. The portal as of now contains 440,000 entries of cases that have been reported since 2008. It's managed by the National Crime Records Bureau. The database is accessible only to the law enforcement agencies for investigation and monitoring purpose.[121]

Fast track courts

As a result of the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, the Indian government implemented a fast-track court system to rapidly prosecute rape cases.[122] The fast-track court system has been welcomed by some, but their fairness questioned by legal experts and scholars.[122] The legal scholars state that the fast-track courts may not be fair in an impoverished country where millions of cases are backlogged, and there are an average of just 14 judges per million people - among the lowest in a United Nations study of 65 nations.[123] Fast track courts divert limited judicial resources and add delays to prosecution of other crimes.[122][123] They noted that Delhi state had instituted five fast-track courts in 2013 to handle rape cases, but there are no fast-track courts for murder.[122] Mrinal Satish, of New Delhi's National Law University said, "there is a risk that in this emotional response and clamor for immediate justice, we could end up putting innocent people in prison".[122]

Marital rape

Marital rape is not a criminal offence within Indian legal framework,[124] except during the period of judicial separation of the partners. The marital rape exception, that is exception 2 of section 375 of the Indian Penal Code states that sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under 18 years of age, is not rape. In the 1980s, women's rights groups lobbied for marital rape to be declared unlawful.[125][126] Government officials argued that the contract of marriage presupposes consent to sex and that criminalising marital rape in turn would degrade family values in India.[124] Forced sex by husbands upon wives does have legal consequences in Indian matrimonial law, in that it can be treated as a matrimonial fault, resulting in dissolution of the marriage.[127] All religious personal laws and the secular law governing marriage and divorce in India deem ‘cruelty’ by one spouse to the other to be a ground for divorce.[127] The originally enacted Hindu marriage Act provided that in order to constitute a cause for divorce, an act of cruelty should be such that it ‘produces a reasonable apprehension in the mind of the petitioner that it will be harmful or injurious for the petitioner to live with the other party.’[127] Marital rape also amounts to ‘sexual abuse’ under the law regarding domestic violence enacted in 2005, under which aggrieved wives or female live-in partners can claim civil remedies, like injunction against violence, dispossession from home or direction to the husband/partner to pay maintenance.[127] The law kicks in to regulate sexual violence in marriage only in cases when it is accompanied by extreme physical violence or when the health and safety of the wife is endangered, as in the case of minor wives.[127]

This exception has restricted application when the wife has been living separately from the husband, with or without a decree of judicial separation. In such cases, the husband can be prosecuted for rape. If convicted, the minimum punishment is imprisonment for two years and imposition of a fine (Section 376B, IPC).[127] This clause was ratified in the year 1983, a period of great upheaval in the history of rape law reform in India, when major changes were made for the first time since enactment of rape laws by the colonial state in 1860.[127] The parliamentary committee that gave final shape to the 1983 amendments was disinclined to treating non-consensual sex between a separated couple as amounting to rape, on the grounds that a rape charge would heighten the possibilities of divorce by making reconciliation that much harder for the couple. Hence, the minimum sentence stipulated for this category of rape was set much lower than usual.[127]

Until 2017, there was a discrepancy between two sub clauses of Section 375. Exception 2 stated that “sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age, is not rape.”[128] However, the same provision stated that a man is said to commit rape if he has sexual relations with a woman with or without her consent, when she is under 18 years of age.[129] Independent Thought, a non-governmental organisation, in a petition in 2013, had challenged Exception 2.[129] In a landmark ruling on 11 October 2017, the supreme court upheld the age of consent as 18 years.[130] The court held that the distinction made between a married girl child and an unmarried girl child was illogical and ran against the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Such a distinction also violated a child's right to liberty and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. Two other significant statutes undermined by the original IPC section were the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and the Juvenile Justice Act, both of which define a child as someone below the age of 18.[131]

Education programmes

In February 2017, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare unveiled resource material relating to health issues to be used as a part of a nationwide adolescent peer-education plan called Saathiya. Among other subjects, the material discusses relationships and consent. The material states, "Yes, adolescents frequently fall in love. They can feel attraction for a friend or any individual of the same or opposite sex. It is normal to have special feelings for someone. It is important for adolescents to understand that such relationships are based on mutual consent, trust, transparency and respect. It is alright to talk about such feelings to the person for whom you have them but always in a respectful manner. ... Boys should understand that when a girl says 'no' it means no."[132][133]

See also

References

  1. Kumar, Radha (2003) [1993], "The agitation against rape", in Kumar, Radha (ed.), The history of doing: an illustrated account of movements for women's rights and feminism in India 1800-1990, New Delhi: Zubaan, p. 128, ISBN 9788185107769. Preview.
  2. "Chapter 5: Crime against women", Crime in India 2012 Statistics (PDF), ncrb.gov.in, p. 81, archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2016
  3. "No country for women: India reported 88 rape cases every day in 2019". indiatoday.in. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  4. "Average 80 murders, 91 rapes daily in 2018: NCRB data". thehindu.com. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. "Crime in India report 2019" (PDF). ncrb.gov.in. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  6. "Crime in India report 2018" (PDF). ncrb.gov.in. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  7. "Rapes in India: 94% offenders known to victim, every 4th victim a minor". indiatoday.in. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  8. "3 minors held for rape each day in 2019". timesofindia.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  9. Humphrey, John A.; Schmalleger, Frank (2012), "Mental illness, addictive behaviors, and sexual deviance", in Humphrey, John A.; Schmalleger, Frank (eds.), Deviant behavior (2nd ed.), Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning, p. 252, ISBN 9780763797737.
  10. Gregg Barak. Crime and Crime Control: A Global View: A Global View. ABC-CLIO. p. 74. Overall, however, rape rates are still lower than most other countries.
  11. United Nations (2009). African Women's Report 2009: Measuring Gender Inequality in Africa - Experiences and Lessons from the African Gender and Development Index. United Nations Publications. pp. 68–. ISBN 978-92-1-054362-0.
  12. Colonel Y Udaya Chandar (23 September 2016). The Ailing India. Notion Press. p. 337. ISBN 978-1-945926-26-6.
  13. Correspondent, Legal (13 April 2019). "Sex on false promise of marriage is rape: Supreme Court". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  14. Siuli Sarkar (17 June 2016). Gender Disparity in India: Unheard Whimpers. PHI Learning. p. 283. ISBN 9788120352513.
  15. Tamsin Bradley (28 February 2017). Women and Violence in India: Gender, Oppression and the Politics of Neoliberalism. I.B. Tauris. p. 105. ISBN 9781786721181.
  16. Shahid M. Shahidullah (2017). Crime, Criminal Justice, and the Evolving Science of Criminology in South Asia: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Springer. p. 96. police-recorded rape rate in India has shown a sharp increasing trend in recent years against the declining trend of all other violent and property crimes.
  17. Staff writer (19 December 2012). "Protests grow over gang rape of Indian woman (video)". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  18. Staff writer (31 May 2014). "Perceived government inaction over rape and murder of two teenage girls sparks public anger". India'sNews.Net. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  19. "The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013" (PDF). The Gazette of India. Government of India. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2013.
  20. Shoeb Khan (3 October 2020). "Rajasthan tops in rape cases across country, say NCRB 2019 report". timesofindia.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  21. Shaswati Das (10 January 2020). "Women most unsafe in Hindi heartland states, MP registers the highest number of rapes at 5,450". livemint.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  22. "Three rapes, 126 vehicle thefts per day in Delhi in 2019: NCRB". hindustantimes.com. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  23. "NCRB Report:Five women raped everyday in Delhi last year:Police". indiatoday.in. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  24. "National Commission for Women raises red flag over rising crime against women in Jaipur". timesofindia.com. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  25. United Nations (2013), "Sexual Violence Tables as of July 2013", in United Nations (ed.), Crime and criminal justice statistics, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
  26. FBI. Crime in the United States 1993-2012. United States Department of Justice.
  27. Mitra, Hem Chandra; Mukhurji, Bamapada. The Indian Penal Code, Act XLV of 1860. Calcutta. p. 322. OCLC 84414842. Details.
  28. Devasia, V.V.; Kumar, Ajit (2009), "Child sexual abuse - breaking the silence", in Devasia, V.V.; Kumar, Ajit (eds.), Social work concerns and challenges in the 21st century, New Delhi: A.P.H. Pub. Corp, p. 71, ISBN 9788131304679. Preview.
    Note: sexual intercourse meant peno-vaginal penetration, all other sexual acts were covered under Section 377 as "unnatural offenses"
  29. Kalra, Kush; Barupal, Priyanka (2013), "Rape", in Kalra, Kush; Barupal, Priyanka (eds.), Law, sex & crime, India: Vij Books, pp. 66–87, ISBN 9789382652229.
    Note: originally ten years in 1860 law, replaced by the word "twelve" in 1891, and replaced with the word "fifteen" in 1950, and word "sixteen" in 1983.
  30. Mehta, Siddharth (April 2013). "Rape law in India: problems in prosecution due to loopholes in the law". doi:10.2139/ssrn.2250448. SSRN 2250448. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  31. Jiloha, R.C. (July–September 2013). "Rape: Legal issues in mental health perspective". Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 55 (3): 250–255. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.117141. PMC 3777346. PMID 24082245.
  32. "The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 (No. 32 of 212)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. Government of India. 20 June 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  33. Mitra, Esha (9 December 2020). "India's rape laws don't cover transgender people. They say it's putting them at risk". CNN. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  34. Gaur, K.D. (2009), "Chapter XVI: Offences affecting the human body", in Gaur, K.D. (ed.), Textbook on the Indian Penal Code (4th ed.), Delhi: Universal Law Pub. Co, p. 684, ISBN 9788175347038. Preview.
  35. Saberin, Zeenat. "India decriminalises gay sex in landmark verdict". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  36. Ghosh, Deepshikha. "Love, Equally: Homosexuality No Longer A Crime, Says Supreme Court". NDTV.com. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  37. "NCRB's report reveals a rape happens every 16 minutes in India in 2019". economictimes.com. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  38. "One rape was reported every 15 minutes in India in 2018". reuters.com. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  39. Pandey, Geeta (7 February 2013). "India child sex victims 'humiliated' - Human Rights Watch". BBC News. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  40. Warhurst, Alyson; Strachan, Cressie; Yousuf, Zahed; Tuohy-Smith, Siobhan (August 2011). "Girl trafficking: a life story". In Warhurst, Alyson; Strachan, Cressie; Yousuf, Zahed; Tuohy-Smith, Siobhan (eds.). Trafficking: A global phenomenon with an exploration of India through maps (pdf). Maplecroft. pp. 37–43. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  41. Shanmugam, Ramalingam (2013). "Informatics about fear to report rapes using bumped-up Poisson model". American Journal of Biostatistics. 3 (1): 17–29. doi:10.3844/amjbsp.2013.17.29.
    See also: Poisson distribution.
  42. Special Correspondent (27 August 2013). "Majority of rape cases go unreported: MPs". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  43. The Indian Journal of Political Science. Indian Political Science Association. 2009. p. 117.
  44. "Sexual act by man with wife, not below 15 years, is not rape, says Supreme Court". 9 August 2017.
  45. "Sex with minor wife to be considered as rape, rules Supreme Court". dna. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  46. Kark, Madiha (2013). Understanding Indian and Pakistani cultural perspectives and analyzing U.S. news coverage of Mukhtar Mai and Jyoti Singh Pandey (PDF) (MA thesis). University of Texas. OCLC 876058002.
    Thesis Committee: Tracy Everbach, Koji Fuse, James E. Mueller, Roy Busby and Mark Wardell.
  47. UN Women (May 2013). Factsheet - Global, Progress of the World's Women 2011-12 (PDF). UN Women. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2011.
  48. S, Rukmini (29 July 2014). "The many shades of rape cases in Delhi". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  49. Sethi, Abheet Singh (19 March 2015). "3 years after Delhi rape, conviction rates same". IndiaSpend.com. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  50. FP Staff (10 September 2013). "A 24.21 percent conviction rate for rape in India, lower every year". The First Post.
  51. "Conviction rate for rape only 27.2% even as country celebrates justice in Nirbhaya case". The Economic Times. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  52. "Under 30 per cent conviction rate in rape cases in India, says NCRB data". newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  53. IANS (4 January 2012). "Accused in 1992 Ajmer sex scandal case arrested". Mid-day.com.
  54. Deep Mukherjee. "Almost three decades after a rape, blackmail case rocked Ajmer, surrender of an accused opens old wounds". Indianexpress. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  55. Ghosh, Shamik. "Delhi gang-rape: victim's friend, also on bus, gives statement in court". NDTV. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  56. HT Correspondent. "No option, victim's intestines removed". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  57. Staff writer (18 December 2012). "Delhi bus gang rape: Uproar in Indian parliament". BBC News. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  58. Staff writer (23 December 2012). "Thousands protest in Indian capital after gang-rape". ITV News.
  59. Staff writer. "Un muerto en la India durante las protestas contra una violación". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  60. Samervel, Rebecca (5 April 2014). "3 Shakti Mills rapists to hang for 'diabolical, planned attack'". The Times Of India.
  61. Staff writer (14 March 2015). "Elderly Indian nun gang-raped in convent school attack". BBC News. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  62. News reports:
  63. TNN (8 April 2016). "Dalit girl student was not murdered, says FSL report". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  64. Express News Service (20 April 2016). "Rajasthan CM Raje govt seeks CBI probe into Dalit girl's death". The Indian Express.
  65. "Outrage spreads over eight-year-old's rape". BBC News. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  66. "J&K: Kathua Rape-And-Murder Of 8-Year-Old Girl Was Aimed At Driving Nomads Out: Official". Outlook India. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  67. Eltagouri, Marwa (11 April 2018). "An 8-year-old's rape and murder inflames tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  68. "Unnao rape case: Will arrest BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, SIT tells Allahabad HC; Highlights here". financialexpress.com. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  69. "Unnao case: CBI files charge sheet against MLA, 9 others for criminal conspiracy". Hindustan Times. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  70. "Unnao rape survivor accident: What happened and what we know so far". India Today. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  71. Bajpai, Namita (23 August 2018). "Unnao rape case: Key witness Yunus died of ailment, claims family". New Indian Express. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  72. "Unnao rape victim's uncle sent to jail, hearing today". Hindustan Times. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  73. Warikoo, Kulbhushan (2014), "Islamist extremism in Kashmir", in Warikoo, Kulbhushan (ed.), Religion and security in South and Central Asia (1st ed.), London New York: Routledge, p. 79, ISBN 9781138784833. Preview.
  74. Margolis, Eric S. (2000), "Revolt in the mountains", in Margolis, Eric S. (ed.), War at the top of the world: the struggle for Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Tibet, New York: Routledge, p. 135, ISBN 9780415930628. Preview.
  75. von Pochhammer, Wilhelm (2005), "Accession of Princely states", in von Pochhammer, Wilhelm (ed.), India's road to nationhood: a political history of the subcontinent, New Delhi: Allied Publishers, p. 512, ISBN 9788177647150. Preview.
  76. Joshi, Manoj (1999), "The valley aflame", in Joshi, Manoj (ed.), The lost rebellion, New Delhi: Penguin Books, p. 64, ISBN 9780140278460. Extract.
  77. Schofield, Victoria (2003). "Vale of tears". In Schofield, Victoria (ed.). Kashmir in conflict: India, Pakistan and the unending war. London New York: I.B. Tauris. p. 157. ISBN 9781860648984. Preview.
  78. Ganai, Naseer (21 October 2011). "Human rights panel asks Jammu and Kashmir govt to reopen army mass rape case". India Today. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011.
  79. Tolley, Jr., Howard B. (2009), "Kashmir", in Forsythe, David P. (ed.), Encyclopedia of human rights, Oxford New York: Oxford University Press, p. 306, ISBN 9780195336887. Preview.
  80. Flint, Colin (2011), "Network geopolitics: social movements and terrorists", in Flint, Colin (ed.), An introduction to geopolitics (2nd ed.), Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon New York: Routledge, p. 192, ISBN 9780415667739. Preview.
  81. HRW (June 1993). "Violations by military organizations". In HRW (ed.). The Human rights crisis in Kashmir: a pattern of impunity (PDF). New York: Asia Watch, a division of Human Rights Watch. p. 154. ISBN 9781564320476.
    Also published as a book: Asia Watch Committee (U.S.); Human Rights Watch (Organization); Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.) (1993). "Violations by military organizations". In Asia Watch Committee (U.S.); Human Rights Watch (Organization); Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.) (eds.). The Human rights crisis in Kashmir: a pattern of impunity. New York: Human Rights Watch. p. 154. ISBN 9781564321046.
  82. Karisson, Bengt G. (2011), "Nature and nation", in Karisson, Bengt G. (ed.), Unruly hills: a political ecology of India's northeast, New York: Berghahn Books, pp. 51–52, ISBN 9780857451057. Preview.
  83. Staff writer (18 July 2011). "Rape and murder in Uttar Pradesh". BBC News.
  84. "Table 7.2: Incidence (I), Rate (R) and Percentage Contribution to All India Total of Crimes (P) Committed Against Scheduled Castes During 2007", Crimes in India 2007 (Chapters 5–7) (PDF), National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2015
  85. Crimes in India 2013 (PDF). National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2015.
  86. Bhowmick, Nilanjana (31 August 2012). "Gujarat riots: new court verdict raises the heat on Narendra Modi". Time. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  87. Vasundhara Sirnate (1 February 2014). "Good laws, bad implementation". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  88. Butalia, Urvashi (2011), "Gender in the construction of nations", in Dobhal, Harsh (ed.), Writings on human rights, law, and society in India: a Combat law anthology: selections from Combat law, 2002-2010, New Delhi: Human Rights Law Network, p. 598, ISBN 9788189479787. Preview.
  89. Žarkov, Dubravka (2007), "Troubles with the victim", in Žarkov, Dubravka (ed.), The body of war: media, ethnicity, and gender in the break-up of Yugoslavia, Durham: Duke University Press, p. 172, ISBN 9780822339663.
  90. Mathur, Aneesha (11 April 2013). "Men falsely accused of rape should be rehabilitated". The Indian Express. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  91. "Women sometime file rape cases as weapon for vengeance:High Court". newindianepress.com. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  92. Jaleel, Imtiaz (3 August 2014). Das, Mala (ed.). "Shiv Sena backs senior cop, says making rape charges is now 'fashion'". NDTV.
  93. ABP Live (3 August 2014). "ABP News debate: Is Shiv Sena trying to protect rape accused?". ABP News.
  94. Jolly Joanna (8 February 2017). "Does India have a problem with false rape claims?". BBC News. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  95. HRW (October 1991), "India", in HRW (ed.), Abdication of responsibility: the Commonwealth and human rights (PDF), New York: Human Rights Watch, p. 14, ISBN 9781564320476.
  96. Chatterji, Angana P. (2012), "Witnessing as feminist intervention", in Loomba, Ania; Lukrose, Ritty A. (eds.), South Asian feminisms: contemporary interventions, Durham: Duke University Press, p. 194, ISBN 9780822351795. Preview.
  97. Press Council of India (1991), "Foreword", in Press Council of India (ed.), Crisis and credibility: report of the Press Council of India, January and July 1991, New Delhi: Lancer International, pp. 10–13, ISBN 9788170621522. Preview.
  98. "Google". Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  99. See:
  100. Staff writer (16 March 2013). "Swiss woman 'gang-raped' in central India". BBC News. London. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  101. Udas, Sumnima (17 March 2013). "Police: Swiss tourist gang-raped in India". CNN. United States. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  102. The Associated Press (18 May 2013). "6 charged with gang rape in India after Swiss attacked". CBC News. Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  103. Pearson, Natalie Obiko (22 January 2015). "India's message to women: come visit, we'll become safer". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  104. Kazmin, Amy; Singh, Jyotsna; Inagaki, Kana (5 January 2015). "Latest rape case adds to fears for Indian tourism industry". Financial Times. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  105. Nelson, Dean (31 March 2013). "Female tourists shun India after rape attack". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  106. UNWTO (2014), "Regional results: Asia and the Pacific - fourth consecutive year of robust growth", in UNWTO (ed.), UNWTO Tourism highlights 2014 edition, Madrid: World Tourism Organization, p. 9, doi:10.18111/9789284416226, ISBN 9789284416226.
  107. Staff writer (6 December 2014). "India logs 10% rise in foreign tourist arrivals". Times of India. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  108. Paris, Natalie (6 January 2015). "India tourism fears after latest rape". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  109. Mail Today Bureau (17 April 2015). "Indian tourism on a mission mode to work on many aspects to boost influx of tourists". India Today.
  110. Buncombe, Andrew (17 December 2009). "Goa MP says rape after midnight 'not a crime'". The Independent. London.
  111. PTI (15 December 2009). "Goa MP Shantaram Naik says some women invite rape". DNA India. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  112. "Section 376A, The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013" (PDF). The Gazette of India. Government of India. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2013.
  113. "Section 53 in The Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1973". indiankanoon.org. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  114. Viswanathan, T.K. "The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2005" (PDF). mha.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 October 2017.
  115. Roy, Rajesh (21 March 2013). "India parliament clears tough rape law". The Wall Street Journal.
  116. PTI (19 May 2013). "No two-finger test for rape: SC". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  117. "Two-finger test should be stopped with immediate effect: SC". ATimes Of India. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  118. PTI (3 November 2015). "Child born out of rape has right over assaulter's property: High Court". The Hindustan Times.
  119. PTI (3 November 2015). "Child born out of rape has right on assaulter's property: Allahabad HC". DNA India.
  120. "Writ Petition No.8210 (M/B) of 2015 "A" through her Father "F" Versus State Of U.P. Thru Prin. Secy., Med. & Health Ser. & Ors". Allahabad High Court. 3 November 2015.
  121. "Sex offenders' registry launched with 4.4 lakh entries". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  122. Sharma, Amol; Agarwal, Vibhuti (25 January 2013). "India rape case tests fast-track courts". The Wall Street Journal.
  123. Timmons, Heather (24 January 2013). "Rape Trial challenges a jam in India's justice system". The New York Times.
  124. Chaturvedi, Amit (1 March 2013). "Marital rape not criminal offence: MPs committee backs govt". NDTV. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  125. Nelson, Dean (14 March 2013). "Men can still rape their wives in India after new Government bill". Daily Telegaph. London. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  126. Kinnear, Karen L. (2011), "Background and history", in Kinnear, Karen L. (ed.), Women in developing countries: a reference handbook, Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, pp. 26–27, ISBN 9781598844269. Preview.
  127. Mandal, Saptarshi (2014). "The Impossibility of Marital Rape: Contestations around Marriage, Sex, Violence and the Law in Contemporary India". Australian Feminist Studies. doi:10.1080/08164649.2014.958124. S2CID 141826626 via Taylor and Francis.
  128. "Section 375 in The Indian Penal Code". indiankanoon.org. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  129. "SC says marital rape can't be considered criminal: Tradition doesn't justify assault, child marriage". Firstpost. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  130. "SC says sex with child bride is rape, remember the Centre put marriage above child rights". The News Minute. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  131. Yamunan, Sruthisagar. "Child marital rape is now illegal. It is time to criminalise adult marital rape too". Scroll.in. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  132. Ghosh, Abantika (21 February 2017). "Same-sex attraction is OK, boys can cry, girl's no means no". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  133. FE Online (21 February 2017). "Homosexual attraction is OK; 'NO' means no: Health Ministry rises above Indian stereotypes". The Financial Express. Retrieved 21 February 2017.

Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.