India’s Supreme Court is ruling next month on whether marital rape should be criminalized in the new penal code. The new laws, replacing colonial-era codes from 1860, are set to take effect on July 1st. The home minister announced reforms, aiming to modernize laws and better protect women. These new laws consider consensual sex on a false promise of marriage a crime, imposing a 10-year sentence.
However, marital rape will not be criminalized if the wife is older than 18. Critics argue this is rooted in outdated thinking, giving men unchecked control over their wives’ bodies. This stance conflicts with the constitution’s protections for women against violence and upholding equality. The reluctance to criminalize marital rape is seen as an effort to appease conservative voters.
