The Supreme Court's landmark ruling that has criminalised sex with wife below 18 years provided the woman files a complaint within a year.
The apex court gave its order on a petition filed by NGO Independent Thought, which had challenged exception clause (2) in Section 375 IPC.
The inconsistency
The Exception 2 to Section 375 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code permits “intrusive sexual intercourse with a girl aged between 15 and 18 only on the ground that she is married. And says it’s not a rape”
The Exception is part of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act of 2013.
The exception clause in Sec 375, IPC stands in contrast to the following:
Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013 raised the age of consent for sexual intercourse for girls, from 16 to 18 years.
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 considers sex with children, those below 18, as rape.
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 also define children as those below 18 years
Thus this clause (2) of Section 375 IPC had created dichotomy over age of consent and also it deprives them of legal protection against forced sexual intercourse.
Court said this clause violates the fundamental rights given under Article 14,15,21 and also violates bodily integrity of the girl child.