Sex with minor wife, an act of crime, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that any sexual act by a husband with his minor wife in child marriage cases was an act of crime.

A public interest litigation was filed in the apex court seeking to allow a bride below 18 years of age to file an FIR if she’s forced to have physical relationship. The PIL had demanded that such acts should be treated as rape.

While delivering the judgement, the apex court expressed concern over practice of child marriage, saying social justice laws had not been implemented with the spirit they were enacted.

Referring to the issue, the top court said "exceptions in rape law is discriminatory, capricious and arbitrary.""The exception in rape law under the IPC is contrary to other statutes, violates bodily integrity of girl child," said the Supreme Court.