Abstract

Women across the world have been more prone to sexual offences, and this has been recognized as well by almost every country by criminalizing forceful sexual advances against women. Among this category, rape is considered as one of the most appalling, atrocious, barbarous crime that can be committed against any woman. There has been a significant evolution in rape law. However, instances of rape have only increased with passage of time. In India, at present the relevant provisions for criminalizing rape is provided under Sections 375 to Section 376E of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and some specific provisions are there for criminalizing rape against minors under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. In this paper, an attempt has been made to trace the evolution of rape laws in India and to comment on the possible paradigm shift in the evolution of rape laws in India.

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