‘Process for Comprehensive Amendments to Criminal Laws in Consultation with Stakeholders Initiated’: Centre Tells Parliament
The government has; started a process for substantial revisions to criminal legislation in consultation with all stakeholders, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Smriti Irani, the union minister for Women and Child Development, stated; this in reply to a question from CPI Member of Parliament Binoy Viswam about the government’s position on the inclusion of “marital rape” as a crime under the Indian Penal Code.
The MP also wanted to know if the government recognizes the incidence of rape/sexual abuse in marriages; if any studies or research done on the subject .
It noted in the response that;the matter is currently sub-judice before the Delhi High Court and further specified, “the Government of India has ;initiated the process for comprehensive amendments to criminal laws in consultation with all stakeholders.”
The Centre also highlighted in its response that;the Standing Committee of Parliamentary had tensed in its 111th and 128th reports; the need to reform and streamline the country’s criminal law by;adopting comprehensive legislation in Parliament rather than piecemeal adjustments to individual Acts.
It should be noted that the Delhi High Court is now examining a number of petitions contesting the exemption to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, which exempts a man’s forcible sexual intercourse with his own wife from the charge of the rape.
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