SC: Sex with wife below 18 is a punishable offence under IPC

As per the Supreme Court's guidelines given on Wednesday, sex with wife aged between 15 and 18 would be termed as a punishable offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The Supreme Court said the exception in rape law is discriminatory, capricious and arbitrary.

The exception in rape law under the IPC is contrary to other statutes, and violated bodily integrity of girl child, the SC said.

The apex court expressed concern over the practice of child marriage, saying social justice laws were not implemented with the spirit they had been enacted.

The SC clarified that it had not dealt with the issue of marital rape as yet.

-PTC News