Sex with wife below 15 and 18 years will be considered as rape, says SC

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Wednesday declared that sex with wife aged between 15 and 18 years would be a punishable offence under the IPC. The exception in rape law is discriminatory, capricious and arbitrary.

Supreme Court expressed concern over practice of child marriage, saying social justice laws are not implemented with the spirit they have been enacted. 

It also said that exception in rape law under the IPC is contrary to other statutes, violates bodily integrity of girl child.