New Delhi: The High Court has reserved judgment in the case of criminalization of marital rape.
According to Indian media, a bench of Justices Rajiv Shakadhar and C. Hari Shankar is hearing a case under section 375 of the Indian Penal Code to remove exemption 2 in the rape law.
Exception 2 states that forcing a man to have sexual intercourse with his wife is not called rape unless the wife is under 15 years of age.
The government had asked the court during the trial to consult the state governments and stakeholders before making a decision, on which the High Court had on February 7 given the Center two weeks to clarify its position on the matter. ۔
At the hearing, counsel Tishar Mehta told the High Court that the Center was awaiting the response of state governments and other stakeholders on the case. Mehta said she had written to the chief secretaries of state governments and the National Commission for Women on the issue in January.
The lawyer also said that usually when a law is challenged we take a stand but they are commercial or tax laws. There are very few cases where the scope of the results is wide. Therefore, we demand that we present our position only after consultation.
He requested the court to adjourn the hearing of the case till further notice from the Center. However, the court rejected the petition and reserved its decision and adjourned the hearing till March 2.
Post a Comment