MARITAL RAPE: THE BITTER TRUTH

ABSTRACT Marital rape is in existence in India, a disgraceful offence that has scarred the trust and confidence in the institution of marriage. A large population of women has faced the brunt of the non-criminalization of the practice. The Indian Penal Code makes an exception in the definition of rape given in Section 375. This paper highlights the practice of marital rape, the complexities involved and looks at the issue from a human rights perspective. The paper analyses the proposals made by different sections of the civil society to make the same a punishable offence by amending the Section in the I.P.C. The paper also looks at the two important committee reports, 172nd and the Justice Verma Committee. The paper also looks at the leading reports that highlight that marital rape is very much in existence and needs to be curtailed at the earliest. It also looks at the present legal stand available for women who face such abuse. Finally, the paper concludes with the opinion of the author on the said subject.