Marital rape may become criminal offence: Maneka

Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Sanjay Gandhi on Tuesday said that the government was considering criminalising marital rape. Her comments come in after the government recently closed ranks on the issue and said that it needs to be deliberated by the Law Commission.

Gandhi said government wants to move forward on the issue. Answering a question on whether there is an attempt to push for criminalisation of marital rape, Gandhi said, “Now there is.” The minister was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event to launch Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign in 61 additional districts.

The minister had faced flak last month over her reply in Parliament to a question on whether the government had plans to criminalise marital rape. Meanwhile the WCD Ministry has now amended its reply in Parliament, with it being similar to the response given by the Ministry of Home Affairs which states that the Law Commission will deliberate upon the matter during the course of its comprehensive review of the Criminal Justice System.