Marital Rape - A License For Rape?

Bhoomika Pundir, Manipal University, Jaipur

ABSTRACT

Marital Rape is one of the most serious and evil act acts which a women suffer in Indian Society. It is no less than rape but still rape is a punishable offence under Indian Penal Code, 1860 and marital rape is not. Indian Penal Code does not recognise that it is a crime for a husband to rape his wife. The reason are diverse can be found in various reports of law commission parliamentary debates and judicial decisions. Indian Society has never considered marital rape as an issue moreover our judiciary also fails to eradicate such kind of serious offence. At present there is no such law in India which protects women from marital rape. About 10%-14% of married women experience marital rape. Victims of such offence are more prone to depression, stress, gynaecological problems etc. This paper highlights the practice of marital rape, its causes, effects on the victims and recommendation of committees on such grave offence. This paper also provides for suggestion for reforms in law system as it is very much needed from a long time.

Keywords: Rape, Consent, Marriage, Violation of rights, Forceful Physical Intercourse