Amicus Curiae, officially "the friend of the court", had a simple video to show to the Delhi High Court, during the hearing of a case on marital rape. It was necessary. Before we get to the how and the what and the why, have a look at the video.
FIRST, WATCH THE VIDEO:
WHAT WAS THE MATTER?
The Delhi High Court judges were hearing a particular law, which is referred to as 'Exception to Section 375', and why this particular exception to the main Section 375 needs to be removed from the legal constituition. Laws are made in statements and rules, and any deviation from these rules which is allowed is known as exception.
Section 375 talks about rape, and this Section has historically had one exception: that of marital rape. This means that if a married man ever has non-consensual sex with a woman, it will not be termed as rape. The case in the High Court is about this exception, that whether marital rape should be considered rape or not.
WHO IS THE JUDGE ?
Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice C Hari Shankar are the 2 Justices who are considering this matter in the Delhi High Court.
Justice Shakdher feels that the relationship of a husband and wife is irrelevant to whether a sexual act amounts to rape. Rape is rape irrespective of marital status, and consent is at the crux of the matter.
Justice C Hari Shankar doesn't say that non-consensual sex by a husband should not be criminalised or punished. But he sees this matter as something which has two parties to the offence, and wants to consider the consequences of changing a particular old law. He wonders if marital rape was "so unconstitutional" for them to strike it off the law.
WHY IS MARITAL RAPE WRONG?
It simply violates a married woman's rights under Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 21 (right to life) under the Constitution. It also violates personal and sexual autonomy; bodily and decisional privacy, and reproductive choices. Having an exception to Section 375 just allows crimes like marital rape to be seen as not a big deal.
AMICUS CURIAE, THE COURT'S FRIEND
Senior advocate Raj Shekhar Rao, who is the amicus curiae, put a few points to the court:
And that's how the point was made.