MARITAL RAPE: A COMPARATIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS (By- Nending Sonia)
MARITAL RAPE: A COMPARATIVE LEGAL
ANALYSIS
Authored By- Nending Sonia
Abstract
Marital rape is an act where husband
forcefully sexual intercourse with his wife without the consent. Marital rape
has been criminalised in more than 100 countries and India comes within the
36th Countries that have not criminalised marital rape as crime. Section 375 of
Indian Penal Code has defined all kind of rape but it does not recognised
marital rape as rape within its ambit. Exception 2 of section 375 of IPC
(herein Indian Penal Code) is the most controversial in the contemporary era,
this is the exception which clearly says that sexual intercourse by the husband
against the will of his wife, who is above the age of 15 years will not be
considered as rape. The age was increased from 15 years to 18 years in case of
Independent Thought v. Union of India (2017) 10 SCC 800. Institution of married
is considered as sacred and therefore marital rape is not being criminalised in
India. Further, the solemnization of marriage of two persons is taken as an
implied consent between them. In India
there is no legislation that deals with marital rape. On the other hand In
U.S.A all the 50 states has criminalised marital rape. The law might differ
from state to state but it has recognised marital rape as crime upholding the
dignity, privacy, and respect of women as a human being without discriminating
the right of women and man with regards to ‘consent to have consensual sexual
intercourse’. In this paper, researcher has try to analysed why marital rape is
not criminalised in India and how this particular issue violates constitutional
provision. Further, the researcher has also mentioned the law related to
marital rape in the state of U.S.A and has also mentioned ‘why’ and ‘why not’
marital rape should be criminalised in India and suggestions.
Key words:
Marital rape, Implied consent, criminalised, Constitution of India, Indian
Penal Code, India, U.S.A
Introduction
The word ‘consent’ plays an important role in every
aspect. Whether it has been given by men or women, anything against the will of
a person is unacceptable. We live in the 21st century and many
things have change till now, when we talk about the empowerment of women,
simply using the word empowerment without creating difference in the status of
women with regard to their will won’t work. While even the parties under Indian
Contract Act, 1972 has been given the right to make a contract as per their
consent and if an agreement without consent is void then why not the consent of
a wife is necessary while having a sexual intercourse with husband. It’s been
75th years India got its Independence but still women are not fully
independent and act freely by their own. While rape signifies sexual act by any
men without the consent of women as an offence but it does not consider it as
rape when it is done against the will of wife in a marriage. Rape law has
recognised all forms of rape but it does not consider marital rape as rape.
Right on one’s self body and sexual autonomy is derived from Article 21 of
Constitution of India, every individual have rights that state must protect,
further one should always remember while enjoying one’s liberty they should not
interrupt or hampered other’s liberty. In the case of A.K. Gopalan v. Union of
India[1],
the Supreme Court by the majority held that the ‘personal liberty’ in Art. 21
means nothing more than the liberty of the physical body ; Whether by nature or
by law it is on women to have a choice to say ‘yes’ or ‘No’. In Suchitra
Srivastra v. Chandigarh Administration[2]
the Supreme Court has held that personal liberty in Article 21 includes the
right to make reproductive choice (to produce child or not to produce). In view
of this women’s right to privacy, dignity and bodily integrity should be
respected.[3]
Meaning Of ‘Marital Rape’
The three main component of rape include (i) sexual
intercourse or penetration, (ii) against her will and (iii) without her
consent. In marital rape these three elements are present; the only difference
is the act is done by husband and is against the will and consent of wife in a
marriage.
Now the institution of marriage in India is considered
as sacred and therefore marital rape has not been criminalised in India yet.
Thus, it violates women’s right to refuse sexual intercourse against her will
further it also violates her right to liberty recognised under Article 21 of
Constitution of India. In more than 100 counties has criminalised marital rape
as offence but India has still not criminalised marital rape and therefore
there is debate related to this particular issue.
·
Here,
the issue is that India is cultural and religious centric country and from the
historian era they treat women as a property and have a mindset that women
should be under the shadow of male figure. When we talk about the institution
of marriage which in India is considered as scared and therefore society is not
ready to accept that rape can be done by a husband in a marriage and this is
why unfortunately India is one of the country among the 36th
countries which has not criminalised marital rape.
The issue in marital rape is that it violates certain
fundamental right that have been given to all persons such as:
·
It
violates Article 14 of Constitution of India
·
It violates Article 21
History Of Marital Rape
18th century English law had a set of rules where the
wife was considered being dependent on her husband, incapable of independent
existence. Husband and wife were marked as one entity, and all the rights of
the wife (including her sexual rights) were subsumed by those of her husband[4].
Further, there is blind believed that it is impossible for a husband to rape
his wife. Basically Sir Matthew Hale justified this believe by three separate
theories: the implied consent theory, the unities of person theory, and the
property theory[5]. The most
common theory behind the impossibility of marital rape is the implied consent
theory, which is structured around contract law[6].
The British Jurist Matthew Hale said that marriage is a legal contract by which
a women ‘gave herself’ to her husband for life. He asserted that the husband
cannot be guilty of rape committed by himself upon his lawful wife, for by
their mutual matrimonial consent and contract the wife had given up herself in
this kind unto her husband, which she cannot retract[7].
This kind of backward thinking is and was present in India during 18th
to 19th century. Consent or unities of person theory is another
justification for not recognizing marital rape as rape. This theory stems from
the belief that when two people marry, they become one[8]. The being of the woman is incorporated into
that of the husband such that the existence of the woman is effectively
suspended during marriage[9].
In other words women during 18th century where not considered as
individual after marriage and was considered one this what the Indian culture
also practice while performing saptapadi. In 1900 BCE in Babylon, a man could
be sentenced to death for forcing sex upon someone’s wife or daughter on the
grounds of ‘vandalising someone else’s property’. The earliest law in the
ancient world defined rape as property crime against the father or husband
rather than the women herself and this is what the third theory i.e. property
theory of Sir Matthew Hale. Under
property theory, by marriage a woman becomes the property or chattel of her
husband[10].
The same was stated by William Blackstone in 1753 when he defended the common
law Doctrine of Coverture (the legal status of a married woman as her husband’s
property)[11]. The
goal behind this theory is to "inspire and perpetuate marital harmony. Under
this view, sexual intercourse can never be rape because the husband is merely
"making appropriate use of his property[12].
With this kind of mentality and morality the emphasis on women’s chastity
increased and rape began to be perceived as a threat that women faced outside
the household, which their father and husbands had to protect them from. It was
under the influence of these laws and attitude that the Indian Penal code was
drafted in 1860. Section 375 of the Act categorically excluded the marital rape
from the definition of rape. Later, to an century and half many activist come
forward with regard to anti rape laws and till now 4 amendment have been done
in Indian Penal Code, 1860 and has define various forms of rape but it has not
define marital rape further the exception granted to marital rape still stands.
Comparative Analysis
Status Of Marital Rape In Usa:
Spousal rape is
crime in USA today, but that wasn’t always so, the English common law, the
source of much traditional law in U.S.A had long held that it wasn’t legally
possible for a man to rape his wife[13]which
means while it was illegal for a man to force sex against a women without her
consent, but it was legal for a man to rape his wife.
In U.S.A, the British common law view that the
contract of marriage includes the husband's "right to sex"—the wife
having given consent for all time by entering the contract[14];
the traditional view of wives as the property of their husbands with which they
could do as they pleased under common law[15],
and the public interest in promoting privacy and harmony in marital
relationships, which discouraged the state from interfering in the
relationships[16]. Before
criminalising marital rape or spousal rape as offence, an 1857 case in
Massachusetts was the first in the U.S. to recognize the "contract"
justification for the marital defense to rape[17].
The "right" of a husband to sex with his wife also provided a husband
with grounds for divorce if his wife refused sex.[18]
That idea stood
for centuries. Then, in 1979, a pair of cases highlighted changing legal
attitudes about the concept. The State v. Rideout (1978), the defendant-
husband was acquitted of charge of rape. This was the first case of marital
rape tried under Oregon's revised law allowing such prosecutions[19]and the case believed to be the
first-ever American conviction for spousal rape came that fall, when a Salem,
Mass., bartender drunkenly burst into the home he used to share with his
estranged wife and raped her. It’s not hard to see how this case was the one
that made the possibility of rape between a married coupled clear to the
public: they were in the middle of a divorce, and the crime involved house
invasion and violence.[20]
This case put a light on the concept of marital rape.
Today, marital rape is crime in more than 50thstate
in U.S.A and affirmative consent is required where matter of sexual activity
are concerned[21].The
parties must voluntary agree to participate in sexual intercourse.
In United State
of America marital rape is crime in all the 50th states but the law
mights be vary from one state to another. Some of the country that has
criminalised marital rape are as follows:
·
Texas:
Texas law[22]
also had an exception for marital rape until 1994. Texas law doesn’t include a discrete statute regarding
marital rape. A spouse may be charged with any type of sexual offense.[23]
Texas law doesn’t distinguish between the sexual assault of a non-spouse and
sexual assault of a husband or wife.[24]
Charges considered in alleged marital rape under Texas Penal code can be simple
sexual assault under section 22.011 it says, the accused may be charged with marital rape if the
prosecutor has evidence that he or she knowingly and intentionally caused 1)
penetration of the spouse’s anus or sexual organ…without his or her consent, 2)
penetration of the spouse’s mouth with the sexual organ…without his or her
consent, 3) the spouse’s sexual organ was penetrated or came into contact with
the other party’s mouth, sexual organ, or mouth.[25] If
the defendant is convicted of sexual assault, he or she faces a second-degree
felony charge punishable by two to 20 years in a Texas prison and a maximum
$10,000 fine.[26]
·
California:
California Penal Code has separate section of Marital/Spousal rape and separate
for rape in general. Section 262[27]
deals with spousal rape and 261[28]
deals with rape in general.
·
South
Carolina - They also have a dedicated section for spousal rape which is Title
16, Chapter 3[29]and
Section 615(16-3-615)[30]
and Title 16, Chapter 3, Section 651(h) [16-3-651(h)][31] of
South Carolina Code of Laws[32]
for spousal sexual battery and sexual battery respectively.
·As from analysing the above mention
law it is clear that in this state marital rape has been recognised as a crime;
similarly all the 50 states in U.S.A has criminalised spousal rape as crime
though it is differ from state to state i.e. some has separate section that
recognised marital rape as crime and have specific punishment under it while
other have criminalised spousal rape but punishment is not specified separately
but what matter is that it has recognised spousal rape as crime and has
protected the dignity of women and making equal the rights of women in the eyes
of law.
Status Of Marital Rape In India
The Indian law does not criminalised marital rape as
an offence. Section 375[33]
of IPC defines that a men is said to commit “rape” if he sexually intercourse
or tries to perform oral sex under the following seven descriptions:
“First -Against her will;
Secondly-Without her consent;
Thirdly-With her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting
her or any person in whom she is interested, in fear of death or of hurt;
Fourthly-With her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband
and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to
whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married;
Fifthly-With her consent when, at the time of giving such consent, by
reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication or the administration by him
personally or through another of any stupefying or unwholesome Substance, she
is unable to understand the nature and consequences of that to which she gives
consent;
Sixthly-With or without her consent, when she is under eighteen years of
age;
Seventhly-When she is unable to communicate consent.”[34]
Now the most controversial part under section 375 is
the Exception 2 which differentiate married and unmarried women with regard to
marital rape. The Exception consider forced sexual violence in a marriage as a
crime only when the wife is below the age of 15 years. This age has been increased by the
judiciary from 15 to 18 years in the case of Independent Thought V. Union of India.[35]The
issue with this exception is that it does not consider marital rape as crime if
sexual intercourse is done by the husband against the consent of a women above
15 or 18 years.
Why It Is Necessary To Criminalised
Marital Rape?
Marriage is considered as sacred in India but the fact
that women has been always treated as a property of others this kind of
mentality is the changing need of society. Today, women are doing great in many
fields keeping in mind the present scenario it becomes important to recognised
that the “consent” of women is equally important as of a men. Especially, when
it comes to one’s right to its own body. Marriage is a holy bond between
husband and wife which includes trust and when such heinous disgust act is done
by a person whom one has know it for a long time, a person that promise to
protect one another and support each other. Than it not only breaks trust and causes
huge psychological trauma as well as physical effect but it also attacks the
dignity of a women.
The impacts of
such effects that are caused due to marital rape are discussed below:
1. Physical effects - It will include injuries to
private organs, fractures, bruises, fatigue etc. and if any assault has been
committed against them causing darkened eyes, bleeding wounds and broken bones.
At times, due to the assault the victim also experiences certain gynecological
issues such as miscarriages, infertility etc.[36]
2. Psychological effects - The psychological effects
are worse than the physical injuries. The agony that women suffer when her
husband rapes her repeatedly cannot be put into words. The women not only lose
her confidence but also her self-respect due to post traumatic stress. She
develops suicidal tendencies, depression, eating disorders, sexual dysfunction
etc.[37]
India does not have any specific provision which deals
with marital rape, India comes within the 36th country that has not
criminalised spousal rape as offence, the only protection can seek by a women
is under Protection of women from domestic violence Act,2005. Under this act
marital rape is consider as a form of domestic violence in order to protect the
institution of marriage.[38]
Exception 2 Of Section 375 Of IPC
Violates Article 14 Of Constitution Of India:
Article 14 of Constitution of India, 1950 ensure that
“state shall not deny to any person equality before law and equal protection of
the laws within the territory of India.”
Exception 2 of IPC violates Article 14 by denying equal protection to
married women. Women where never treated as equal to men, from the British era
women are treated as the property of father or her husband this conservative
thinking of society is known as Doctrine of Coverture and due to the increasing
crime against women there was a need to draft the Indian penal code of 1860.
The penal code define all kinds of rape but it does not recognised marital rape
as crime, further exception 2 of section 375 clearly states that sexual
intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under 15 years of
age is not rape. Which means it is considered as rape only if the wife is under
15 years. Thus, it violates Article 14[39]
as it differentiates between married and unmarried women as there is no
reasonable classification. Further, while legislation like ‘POCSO’[40]
and ‘Juvenile Justice Act’[41]
recognised child below the age of 18 years as a child where as Exception 2 of
section 375 of IPC considered only child below the age of 15 years. In State of West Bengal V. Anwar Ali Sarkar,[42]
the Supreme Court has held that any classification to be reasonable as per
Article 14 of the Constitution of India should be based on Intelligent Differentia.
Hence, the classification
has no reasonable nexus with the object of Section 375 of IPC exception 2 as it
is violative of Article 14.[43]
Exception 2 Of IPC Violates Article
21 Of Constitution Of India:
Article 21 of Constitution of India says that: “No
person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to
procedure established by law”. Article 21 is the heart of the constitution. Cases
like Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India[44], A.K.
Gopalan v. Union of India[45],
Kharak Singh v. State of U.P.[46], etc.
have expended the scope of Article 21[47]. The
Supreme Court has held that the term ? ‘life’ under Article 21 is restricted to
merely animal existence but it is much more than that[48].
Several righst have been recognised under Article 21 and “right to privacy” is
one such right that has been recognised as fundamental rights. The Supreme
Court in K.S Puttuswamy (Retd) v. Union of India[49]
recognized the right to privacy as a fundamental right of all citizens and held
that ?the right to privacy includes decisional privacy reflected by an ability
to make intimate decisions primarily consisting of one’s sexual or procreative
nature and decision in respect of intimate relations.[50]In
the same case the court held that privacy is about an individual's autonomy
which means an individual full control in its body as well as mental space, the
offence of rape and injury caused remains the same irrespective of who the
offender is. Irrespective of who the perpetrator is, forced sex mars the
women-victim physically, psychologically and emotionally. Thus, exception 2 of
section 375 is violative of Article 21 as it does not allow a women to have
personal right her body. Further, in the case of Suchita Srivastava V. Chandigarh Administration[51]
the Supreme Court held the right to make choices related to sexual activities
is personal liberty also Honorable Justice DY.Chandrachud while delivering the
Joseph shine judgment[52]
has held that man is not the owner’ of the sexuality of wife.[53]
Thus, from the above judgement it is clear that
Exception 2 of section 375 violates Article 14 and 21 of Constitution of India
and therefore marital rape should be criminalised in India as well.
Pros And Con Of Criminalisation Of
Marital Rape
PROS OF CRIMINALISING MARITAL RAPE
1. When the state exempt Criminal act
such as forced sex within marriage, it unwillingly engages in unequal
disbursement of rights conferred by the constitution[54].
2. It is violates of Article 14 of
constitution of India, as in make differentiates between married and unmarried
women.
3. Exception 2 of IPC violates a women
right to autonomy under Article 21 of Constitution of India, also it does not
give right to women to have control on her body and enjoy its personal liberty
as granted to a women by constitution and provided to a women for being a human
(natural right).
4. The Exception 2 of section 375 of IPC
is out dated as the age provided there is 15 years which means it does not
include women above 15 years as well as it also does not consider it as rape if
sexual intercourse is done by a husband without as consent with a child between
the age of 15 to 18. Whereas, act like POCSO and Juvenile Justice Act
considered children as child if he or she is below 18 years.
5. Also section 498a does not
specifically marital rape.
CONS OF MARITAL RAPE:
1. Exception 2 of section 375 of IPC
does not violates constitution and is based on intelligible differentia.
2. Any assumption that a wife, who is
forced to have sex with her husband on a particular occasion when she does not
want to, feels the same degree of outrage as a women raped by a stranger is not
justified. Further, there is implied consent of married women to indulge in
sexual intercourse.
3. Already an offence under section 498a
IPC and Domestic Violence Act.
4. Further the contention to
criminalised marital rape is not that simple, the issue itself have wide
societal and sociological ramification, which cannot be ignored.
Suggestion
1. Marital rape should be criminalised
in India also and Exception 2 of section 375 of Indian Penal Code be remove.
2. Marital rape should be considered as
crime with differentiating married and unmarried women.
3. Indian Penal Code should be amended.
4. While deciding the case of marital
rape there should be at least one women judge in the penal while deciding the
case.
5. The offence of marital rape should be
considered as a valid ground for divorce under all personal laws.
Conclusion
Marital rape violates women’s right to her body and it
attacks on the dignity of a women. Justice Rajiv Shakdher has rightly said
that, “certain sexual offences need to be called out for what they are. Sexual
assault by the husband on his wife which falls within the fold of section 375
of the IPC, need to called out as rape as that is one of the ways in which the
society expresses its disapproval concerning the conduct of the offender.
Oddly, the prevailing mores in the society appears to stigmatize the victim
rather than the rapist.” Further, on one hand we promote fundamental rights
such as equality before law and on the other hand by not criminalising such
crime as offence than we are unwilling engage in unequal. Also not recognising
the consent of a women and her right on her body id gross violative of Article
21 of the constitution of India. Further, Consensual sex is at the heart of a
healthy and joyful marital relationship. And once by way a marriage if women
have given right to have sexual intercourse that does not mean she does not
have or have withdrawn her right to refuse sexual intercourse. Therefore,
researcher would like to submit that marital rape should be criminalised and
Exception 2 of section 375 should be removed.