Nowadays, the judgements of the Supreme Court are not getting much public support and appreciation as they used to get earlier. The apex court created controversy first by banning the sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region and that too, just 10 days before the Hindu festival Diwali and now it has come up with a weird verdict.
As per the Supreme Court, if a person engages in a sexual intercourse with a minor wife (between the age of 15 and 18 yrs), he can be charged for criminal act and it would be considered as rape.
If we look at it with a view point of a decision which is protecting girls, then it is a good and welcoming one but the legal age of marriage for a girl is 18 in India, so even if a man gets married to a minor girl, the marriage is void or invalid from the very beginning (void ab initio) and it won’t be a case of marital rape.
This verdict has taken the micro-blogging site to storm and Twitterati expressed their dismay and inability to understand what the Supreme Court actually wants to convey.
Here are some selected reactions:
SC, are you reading?
https://twitter.com/kabhishek744/status/918030294422249472
Hilarious take:
https://twitter.com/rama_rajeswari/status/917379273647894529
Right!
Dear Supreme Court. Forced sex is rape whether you're 18 or 80. Don't legalise age of consent, legalise consent. Criminalise #MaritalRape.
— Meghna Pant (@MeghnaPant) October 11, 2017
Bizarre:
How bizzare.
Now youth enjoying sex before 18 and without marriage is ok but after marriage is rape.— Seeking Equality (@MasculistA) October 11, 2017
Which is a bigger crime?
#MaritalRape which one is the greater crime now? Marrying a minor or sleeping with one's own wife?🤒🤒🤒🤒
— Samsuj Zaman (@msz4u) October 11, 2017
Exactly:
What in the world!!!? Child marriage is a crime in first place then how could u ban sex with a minor wife. #MaritalRape
— Absurdist (@Absurdist360) October 11, 2017
There’s a point!
There should be law for these down market shows like Balika Vadhu and Pehredar Piya Ki
#MaritalRape pic.twitter.com/zAysrKufwO
— Rishika Rao (@aadiivaasii) October 11, 2017
Can anyone answer?
Is not 'marriage' a blanket consent to sex? Does a husband need to take consent every night? @DeepikaBhardwaj #MaritalRape
— Sangeetha (@PplOfIndia) October 11, 2017
Parents should be charged too:
#MaritalRape Sex before 18 is rape – okay but marriage before 18 is? Their parents should be charged too for juvenile marriage सुप्रीम कोर्ट
— बैटमैन࿗ (@BatmanUvacha) October 11, 2017
The better option is to avoid child marriage:
https://twitter.com/imyogesh03/status/918018874959790080
What is your take over the matter? Let us know your views.
