Outrage Erupts in India as Court Acquits Man Convicted of Raping Wife Who Died

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A Chhattisgarh High Court has sparked widespread outrage in India by acquitting a man previously convicted of raping his wife, who died shortly after the assault. The 40-year-old husband, sentenced in 2019 for both rape and culpable homicide, was released earlier this week due to a legal precedent that does not recognize marital rape as a crime in India. High Court Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas ruled that, since India’s laws do not classify marital rape as an offense, the husband could not be guilty of non-consensual acts.

Activists, including gender rights lawyer Sukriti Chauhan, condemned the judgment, calling it “ethically and morally abhorrent.” They argue that it sends a dangerous message about women's rights within marriage and highlights the urgent need for legal reform. According to a government survey, 32% of married women in India face violence from their partners, yet many do not report such incidents.

Despite growing demands for change, the Indian government has resisted criminalizing marital rape, asserting that existing laws sufficiently protect married women. Campaigners continue to call for action, emphasizing the need for societal and legal reform to safeguard women's rights.

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