Considering constructive approach on criminalising marital rape, Centre tells HC
The Centre Thursday told the Delhi High Court that it was considering a "constructive approach" to the issue of criminalising marital rape and has sought suggestions from state governments, the Chief Justice of India, MPs and others on comprehensive amendments to the criminal law.
Justice Rajiv Shakdher, who is heading the bench dealing with a batch of petitions seeking criminalisation of marital rape, informed during the hearing that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter before him when certain other parties and Justice C Hari Shankar, who forms part of the bench, were not present.
"The matter was mentioned in the morning by the learned SG and he was saying that the government was considering a constructive approach to the matter," said Justice Shakdher.
Central government lawyer Monika Arora told the bench that the Centre was undertaking a comprehensive task of amending the criminal law which includes section 375 (rape) of the IPC.
The court said that overhaul of the law would take "a lot of time" and asked the central government to state if it was dealing specifically with the issue of marital rape exception.
"If vis-a-vis (section) 375 you people (Centre) have some suggestions then we will consider that. Generally, this exercise will take a lot of time," said the court as it continued to hear the petitions.