The Supreme Court on Wednesday criminalised sex between a man and his underage wife provided the woman files a complaint within a year. The court said the exception in the rape law that allowed a man to have sex with his minor wife aged between 15 and 18 was arbitrary and violated the Constitution. Discrepancy in lawsThe rape law and the protection of children from sexual offences act (Pocso) disagreed on the age of consent. Section 375 of the IPC says sex with a girl who is below 18 is rape but Exception 2 allowed a man to have sex with his underage wife even without her consent. The rape law made even consensual sex between a man and a minor girl an offence.

Source: Hindustan Times October 11, 2017 08:01 UTC