An Indian high court’s controversial decision to acquit a man accused of forcing “unnatural sex” on his wife, leading to her death, has ignited widespread outrage and intensified demands for the criminalisation of marital rape in India.
The acquittal was based on the legal stance that marital rape is not recognised as an offence under current Indian law, highlighting a what activists say is a significant gap in protections for married women.
Prior to her passing the woman made a ‘Dying Declaration’ to police in which she said she had became ill due to forced sexual intercourse with her husband.
The incident took place on 11 December 2017. After he left for work the next day, she sought help from his sister and another relative, who took her to hospital where she died a few hours later.
The ruling has brought attention to an old legal provision from the British colonial era which exempts non-consensual sex within marriage from being classified as rape, fuelling heated debates on women’s rights, consent, and the sanctity of marriage amidst rising calls for legislative reform.
Indian Courts upholding the Sanctity of Marriage..
which allows men to rape and mu*der womenVastraharan and banishment from the marital home, next on the cards
Unnatural sex by husband even by force not a crime: HC as woman dieshttps://t.co/PsIo3i4WnQ
-via inshorts pic.twitter.com/D8uI1pKOBJ— Grouchy Maxx (@softgrowl) February 12, 2025
Image credit: Getty Images
