Strict Implementation: Justice to Rape Victims

The first time ‘rape’ was mentioned in our legal structure when the Indian Penal Code was written in 1860. Section 375 to Section 376E of the Indian Penal Code refers to ‘sexual offenses’. S.375 defined rape as sex without consent, with consent but under the fear of death or with consent but under false pretenses. It also defined ‘statutory rape’ as sex with a woman under the age of 16. S.376 deals with the punishment of rape which clearly states that rape shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may be for life or for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.