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Sex with wife below 18 years to be deemed as rape, says Indian apex court

| @indiablooms | Oct 11, 2017, at 05:17 pm
New Delhi, Oct 11 (IBNS): The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that sexual intercourse between a husband and his underage wife (below 18 years) will be considered as rape, provided the latter files a complaint within one year of the incident taking place, reports said.

The verdict comes at a time when the apex court is also hearing cases related to the criminalisation of marital rape.

So far, Indian laws disagree on age of consent when it comes to child marriage.

Under the existing law, Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code states that sex with a girl who is below 18 is rape, but has an exception.

Sexual intercourse between husband and wife, the latter being 15 or more years of age, will not be considered as rape, even if it is without her consent.

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