Forced sexual relations between married couples not rape: Delhi Court

New Delhi - Sexual relations between a legally wedded husband and wife, "even if forcible, is not rape", a Delhi court has said while acquitting a youth who was accused of marrying a 21-year-old girl after serving her a sedative- laced drink and raping her.
"It is evident that the prosecutrix (girl) had willingly and in full senses solemnised her marriage with the accused and the marriage was registered in the office of Registrar of Marriages, Ghaziabad, on March 4, 2013. The parties engaged in physical relations with each other after the marriage.

The court's judgement may not go down well with women's rights activists .AFP

"The girl was more than 21-years-old at the time. Thus the girl and accused being legally-wedded husband and wife and the girl being a major, the sexual intercourse between the two, even if forcible, is not rape and no culpability can be fastened upon the youth," Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat said while absolving the youth of the charge of rape.