CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title> New criminal laws legalise male rape in India | International Bar Association</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, user-scalable=no"> <meta name="title" content="New criminal laws legalise male rape in India "> <meta name="keywords"> <meta name="description" content="The article discusses the most recent debate relating to the new criminal laws enacted by the Indian government which legalise the offence of male rape."> <meta name="robots" content="index,follow"> <meta property="og:title" content="New criminal laws legalise male rape in India " /> <meta property="og:description" content="The article discusses the most recent debate relating to the new criminal laws enacted by the Indian government which legalise the offence of male rape." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.ibanet.org/new-criminal-laws-legalise-male-rape-in-India" /> <meta property="og:type" content="Website" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.ibanet.org/medias/iba-placeholder-blue.png?context=bWFzdGVyfGFzc2V0c3w4NzU1fGltYWdlL3BuZ3xhRFEwTDJnMU5DODVNRGsyTVRnMk1qQXdNRGswTDJsaVlTMXdiR0ZqWldodmJHUmxjaTFpYkhWbExuQnVad3w2ZGE4ZTYxYmVhMDY3ZmY0N2ExMDM5YTlhNWY4ZDFiYzFkMDg1MGMxYWZjZDNhN2E1MWI3YmUxOGJkYzgwODM5" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /><link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" media="all" href="/_ui/responsive/theme-alpha/images/favicon.ico" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/wro/base_responsive.css?v=948153693" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/wro/addons_responsive.css?v=948153693" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/_ui/responsive/theme-alpha/css/owl.carousel.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/_ui/responsive/theme-alpha/assets/css/fonts-icons/fontawesome.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_ui/responsive/theme-alpha/css/printing.css?v=948153693" media="print"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/configurable-style/FlexTemplate1V1/stylesheet.css?v=948153693" />  <script src="https://cdn-ukwest.onetrust.com/consent/01905a83-279f-78f3-85a7-62a38ca23783/OtAutoBlock.js" type="text/javascript" ></script> <script src="https://cdn-ukwest.onetrust.com/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js" type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" data-domain-script="01905a83-279f-78f3-85a7-62a38ca23783" ></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function OptanonWrapper() { } </script>  <script src="/_ui/shared/js/analyticsmediator.js"></script> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-195227663-1"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag() { dataLayer.push(arguments); } gtag('js', new Date()); if (true) { // Set default consent settings gtag('consent', 'default', { 'ad_storage': 'denied', 'analytics_storage': 'denied', 'personalization_storage': 'denied', 'security_storage': 'granted', 'ad_user_data': 'denied', 'ad_personalization': 'denied', 'wait_for_update': 500 }); } gtag('config', 'UA-195227663-1'); function trackLogin() { gtag('event', 'login'); } function trackAddToCart(productCode, quantityAdded) { gtag('event', 'add_to_cart', { items: [{ id: productCode, quantity: quantityAdded }] }); } function trackRemoveFromCart(productCode, initialQuantity) { gtag('event', 'remove_from_cart', { items: [{ id: productCode, quantity: initialQuantity }] }); } window.mediator.subscribe('trackLogin', function() { trackLogin(); }); window.mediator.subscribe('trackAddToCart', function(data) { if (data.productCode && data.quantity) { trackAddToCart(data.productCode, data.quantity); } }); window.mediator.subscribe('trackRemoveFromCart', function(data) { if (data.productCode && data.initialCartQuantity) { trackRemoveFromCart(data.productCode, data.initialCartQuantity); } }); </script>  <script> (function(w, d, s, l, i) { w[l] = w[l] || []; w[l].push({ 'gtm.start' : new Date().getTime(), event : 'gtm.js' }); var f = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j = d.createElement(s), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? '&l=' + l : ''; j.async = true; j.src = 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; f.parentNode.insertBefore(j, f); })(window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-NB67BL3'); </script>  </head> <body class="page-cmsitem-00275019 pageType-ContentPage template-pages-layout-flexTemplateLayoutPage1 pageLabel--new-criminal-laws-legalise-male-rape-in-India smartedit-page-uid-cmsitem_00275019 smartedit-page-uuid-eyJpdGVtSWQiOiJjbXNpdGVtXzAwMjc1MDE5IiwiY2F0YWxvZ0lkIjoibWV4Q29udGVudENhdGFsb2ciLCJjYXRhbG9nVmVyc2lvbiI6Ik9ubGluZSJ9 smartedit-catalog-version-uuid-mexContentCatalog/Online language-en">  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=UA-195227663-1" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <div class="branding-mobile hidden-md hidden-lg"> <div class="js-mobile-logo"> </div> </div> <main data-currency-iso-code="GBP"> <div class="yCmsContentSlot"> <div class="content"><div class="js-banner-component" style="background: #ececec;padding: 12.5px 0px;border-bottom: 1px solid #DDD;"> <div class="container"> <div class="row justify-content-center"> <div class="col-12 col-md-7 text-center"> <a class="LexisNexis-BannerAd d-block" href="http://7608651.hs-sites.com/watch-how-jigsaw-is-making-ai-work-for-lawyers" target="_blank" type="button"><img alt="" class="img img-fluid d-flex mx-auto" src="/document?id=Jigsaw-AI-banner" title="Jigsaw AI" /></a> </div> </div> </div> </div></div></div><nav class="navbar top-nav header"> <div class="header__site-logo-mobile hidden-lg hidden-xl"> <div class="banner__component simple-banner logo"> <a href="/" aria-label="Home"> <img title="" alt="" src="/medias/logo.png?context=bWFzdGVyfGltYWdlc3wyMTU5NnxpbWFnZS9wbmd8YUdJekwyZzVOUzg0TnprMk1qazNNREF6TURNNEwyeHZaMjh1Y0c1bnw5ZjkyNGYwY2U3MTQ1NDk0NTRmMmExNzNmM2EzYzI3MTMxZWI2ZTgyMGIxZGFjNDVkMDkyNzRjYzIyMjQ1MmVk" class=""> </a> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="header__left-side col-md-4 hidden-xs hidden-sm hidden-md"> <div class="banner__component simple-banner logo"> <a href="/" aria-label="Home"> <img title="" alt="" src="/medias/logo.png?context=bWFzdGVyfGltYWdlc3wyMTU5NnxpbWFnZS9wbmd8YUdJekwyZzVOUzg0TnprMk1qazNNREF6TURNNEwyeHZaMjh1Y0c1bnw5ZjkyNGYwY2U3MTQ1NDk0NTRmMmExNzNmM2EzYzI3MTMxZWI2ZTgyMGIxZGFjNDVkMDkyNzRjYzIyMjQ1MmVk" class=""> </a> </div> </div> <div class="header__right-side d-flex align-items-center col-md-8"> <div class="form-inline my-2 header__search-bar col-md-8"> <div class="ui-front search-bar"> <form action="/search/" id="globalSearchForm"> <div class="floating-labels"> <div class="form-group search-section"> <input type="text" name="text" class="form-control js-site-search-input" id="site-search-input" value="" data-options="{ "autocompleteUrl" : "/search/autocomplete", "minCharactersBeforeRequest" : "3" }" maxlength="100"> <label for="site-search-input" class="site-search-input">Search...</label> <button class="btn header-search-btn input-group-btn js_search_button" aria-label="Search" type="submit"> <span class="searchIcon"><i class="fas fa-search"></i></span> </button> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="my-account js-my-account-avatar"> <a href="/login" class="btn btn-primary btn-primary__sign-in my-2 my-sm-0"> Sign in</a> </div> <div class="nav-cart mini-cart"> <a href="/cart" data-toggle="tooltip" title="Your cart is empty"> <i class="fas fa-shopping-cart fa-xl"></i> </a> </div></div> <button class="navbar-toggler p-0 on-mobile" type="button" data-toggle="offcanvas" aria-label="Browse through the navigation bar"> <div class="hamburger"> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> </div> </button> </div> </nav> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg bg-dark"> <div class="container"> <div class="navbar-collapse offcanvas-collapse"> <ul class="navbar-nav mr-auto"> <li class="navbar-nav__account nav-item hidden-lg hidden-xl"> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">About</a> <div class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="dropdown01"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Contact-the-IBA" >Contact the IBA</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/About-the-IBA" >About the IBA</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/governance-and-management" >Governance, leadership and management</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Task-Forces" >Task forces</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Special-Projects-Fund" >Special projects fund</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Charitable-trusts" >Charitable trusts</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/past-presidents" >Past presidents</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">IBA Presidency</a> <div class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="dropdown01"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/IBA-Presidency-Blog" >IBA Presidency</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">Committees / Divisions</a> <div class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="dropdown01"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/lpd" >Legal Practice Division</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/PPID" >Public and Professional Interest Division</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Bar-Associations-Home" >Bar Issues Commission - Bar Associations</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/committees" >Committee index</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/committees/divisions/legalPractice/lpdSections" >Section index</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/unit/Regional+Fora/section/Regional+Fora/218" >Regional fora</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Diversity-and-Inclusion-Council" >Diversity & Inclusion Council</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">Outreach</a> <div class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="dropdown01"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/IBAHRI" >Human Rights Institute</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/IBAHRIsecretariat" >High Level Panel - Media Freedom</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/LPRU" >Legal Policy and Research Unit</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.eyewitness.global" target="_blank" >eyeWitness</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="" >Education and Internships</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/IBA-Foundation" >IBA Foundation</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Podcast-series-Sustainable-law-in-action" >Sustainable law podcast series </a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Scholarships-and-Awards" >Scholarships and Awards</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/IBA-Barbri-Negotiation-Skills-Course" >IBA/Barbri Negotiation Skills Course</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ICC-ICL-Programme" >ICC & ICL Programme</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ICC-Moot-Court-Competition" >IBA ICC Moot Court Competition</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/articles?type=NEWS_RELEASE" >News releases</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">Membership</a> <div class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="dropdown01"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Join" >Join the IBA</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/my-account/memberDirectory" >Membership directory</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">Conferences / Events</a> <div class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="dropdown01"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/conferences" >Conference diary</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Advertising-and-Sponsorship/Specialist-Conference" >Specialist conference sponsorship</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">Digital Content</a> <div class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="dropdown01"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/IBA-Digital-Content" >Digital Content home</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/IBA-Global-Insight" >Global Insight</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/articles?type=NEWS_ANALYSIS" >News analysis</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/articles?type=PODCASTS" >Global Insight podcasts</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/articles?type=FILMS" >Films</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/IHP" >In-House Perspective</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Journals" >Journals</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/committee-content" >Committee content</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/resources" >Guides and reports</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Books" >Books</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/e-News-Advertising" >e-News advertising</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/Advertising-and-Sponsorship/Leaderboard-Advertising" >Leaderboard advertising</a> </div> </li> <li class="navbar-nav__sign-out nav-item hidden-lg hidden-xl"> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <div class="main__inner-wrapper"> <div class="container"> <div class="yCmsContentSlot row"> <div class="yCmsComponent Col-12"> <div class="container articleSection"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12 col-md-12"> <div> <h1 class="articleTitle">New criminal laws legalise male rape in India </h1> <div class="authorDate">Tuesday 24 September 2024</div></div> </div> </div> <p style="text-align:justify; margin-bottom:11px"><strong>Nihit Nagpal</strong><br /><em>S.S. Rana & Co, New Delhi</em><br /><a href="mailto:nihit.nagpal@ssrana.in">nihit.nagpal@ssrana.in</a></p><p><strong>Lakshit Rajdev</strong><br /><em>S.S. Rana & Co, New Delhi</em></p><p></p><h2>Introduction</h2><p>Rape is one of the most grievous forms of human rights violation committed against any person. Laws against rape are globally recognised and enforced through various domestic laws in every country. The most recent debate relating to this offence is about whether the new criminal laws enacted by the Indian Government legalise the offence of male rape. Where non-consensual sex with a same gender person was also criminalised under the provisions of the earlier Act, the new Act completely removes the provisions of unnatural offences which was earlier punishable under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code 1860. This step by the Indian government not only violates basic human rights but also pushes the criminal law backwards after a long history of this controversial provision relating to same-sex relationships.</p><p></p><h2>Background of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code</h2><p>Section 377<a href="#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><sup>[1]</sup></a> of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been the centre of a decade long legal struggle faced by the Indian LGBTQI+ community. This provision criminalised consensual and non-consensual sex between same-sex persons by categorising them under ‘Unnatural Offences’. To analyse the issues related to this provision, the timeline of the legal history of this provision is necessary to be considered.</p><ol class="include-number"><li>Under British rule, Section 377 came into force in 1860, based on the Buggery Act 1533 drafted by Thomas Macaulay which defined ‘buggery’ as ‘unnatural sexual Act against the will of God and man that is why it criminalizes anal penetration, bestiality and homosexuality broadly’.</li><li>In 2001, the first legal complications against this provision began when the Naz Foundation Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) filed a petition challenging the constitutionality of Section 377 of the IPC in Hon’ble Delhi High Court. The court upheld the petition in 2003, stating that it had no standing. The foundation appealed to the Supreme Court who directed the Delhi High Court to reconsider their judgment.</li><li>In 2009, the Delhi High Court, while re-examining the Naz foundation case, ruled that consensual sexual acts between same-sex couples should not be considered criminal stating that ‘we declare that section 377 IPC regardless of its prohibition of consensual sexual acts by adults in private space breaches Articles 21,14 and 15 of our Constitution’.<a href="#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><sup>[2]</sup></a></li><li>In 2013, Suresh Kumar Koushal applied for an appeal against the Delhi High Court Order which was dismissed by the Supreme Court stating ‘section 377 IPC does not suffer from the vice of unconstitutionality and the declaration made by the Division Bench of the High court is legally unsustainable’.<a href="#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><sup>[3]</sup></a> Finally, in 2018, a petition was again filed by a Bharatanatyam dancer, Navtej Singh Johar, in which the Supreme Court formed a constitution bench of five judges which was led by then Chief Justice Dipak Mishra. This bench decriminalised Section 377 partially by allowing same-sex relations between consenting adults. However, the Hon’ble Court upheld provisions in Section 377 that criminalise non-consensual acts or sexual acts performed on animals.<a href="#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><sup>[4]</sup></a></li></ol><p>After this long legal battle, the Supreme Court upheld the provisions of Section 377 that criminalised the nonconsensual acts, bestiality and carnal intercourse under the head of unnatural offences under Section 377. However, recently the Indian government legislated new criminal laws, which repealed the old criminal laws. The new criminal law acts are named the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (BNS) replacing the Indian Penal Code 1860; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (BNSS) replacing the Criminal Procedure Code 1973; and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 (BSA) which has replaced the Indian Evidence Act 1872.</p><p>Focusing, on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which has replaced the Indian Penal Code and completely removed the provisions under Section 377 which means that protection for men against rape has been removed in the new Act. The offence of ‘rape’ is covered under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which does not provide any protection to a male against sexual assault. This move under the newly enacted Act goes completely against the principles of gender neutrality and contradicting the objective which was proposed by the government while presenting the bills in the Parliament of India. This article further dives into the effect of this change on the criminal justice system and the other provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, based on the principles of gender neutrality.</p><p></p><h2>Effect of the repeal</h2><p>As discussed, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was read down by the Supreme Court and, based on the doctrine of severability, removed the provision that criminalised the consensual intercourse between people of same sex. Now, according to the new criminal laws, there is no provision replacing this section. Sexual offences under the Indian Penal Code were covered under chapter XVI of the Code, ‘Of Offences Affecting the Human Body’. In the proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the subhead ‘Of sexual offences’ falls under Chapter V of the Sanhita, which specifically concerns ‘Offences against Women and Children’.</p><p>The direct inference which can be made out of this change is that protection to non-minor males from rape is not available under new provisions. This would have an adverse effect on legal rights of men and their protection against criminal offences.</p><p></p><h2>Provisions relating to gender neutrality under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023</h2><p>Other than provisions related to sexual offences in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, there are provisions that pose principles of gender neutrality such as:</p><ol class="include-number"><li>Domestic violence prevention: Section 112<a href="#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title=""><sup>[5]</sup></a>: Protection against domestic violence provides preventive measures for victims of domestic violence; these protections apply universally to everyone including men and persons who identify as LGBTQI+.</li><li>Equal rights for victims: Section 200<a href="#_edn6" name="_ednref6" title=""><sup>[6]</sup></a>: Rights of victims requires that all victims receive equal consideration and respect from the government regardless of their sex.</li><li>Gender-neutral definitions: Definitions include gender-neutral definitions for key terms such as consent, coercion and exploitation in order to ensure that the law applies equally to everyone.</li><li>Anti-discrimination measures: Section 300<a href="#_edn7" name="_ednref7" title=""><sup>[7]</sup></a>: Prohibits anti-discrimination, forbidding discrimination based on gender across all spheres such as employment, education and access to public services.</li><li>Inclusive protection orders: Section 350<a href="#_edn8" name="_ednref8" title=""><sup>[8]</sup></a>: Any individual regardless of gender may apply for protection orders when threatened or threatened with violence.</li></ol><p>These sections are designed in a way that they ensure that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 promotes equality and justice among all people irrespective of their sex.</p><p></p><h2>Laws of other countries on gender neutrality in sexual offences</h2><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Country Name</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Protection</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>US</p></td><td><ol><li>All types of non-consensual sexual acts are defined as a legal offence of rape under Chapter 109A of the United States Code irrespective of the gender of the person on whom it is committed.</li><li>It is mostly gender neutral terms in which federal and state laws define sexual assault and rape. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines it as ‘penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person without the consent of the victim’ and the term ‘another person’ implies gender neutrality in the provision.<a href="#_edn9" name="_ednref9" title=""><sup>[9]</sup></a></li></ol></td></tr><tr><td><p>UK</p><p></p></td><td><p>In England, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 is the main law that deals with sexual offences. Similar laws exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Sexual Offences Act 2003, for instance, employs gender-neutral terms. A person (A) is said to have raped a person (B) when that person intentionally intrudes into B’s vagina, anus or mouth with their penis without B’s acceptance and without any reasonable belief of B’s ownership upon it. Although the term ‘penis’ makes it evident that only men can carry out this action, other forms of sexual misconduct such as penetration assaults are described using gender-neutral expressions.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Africa</p></td><td><ol><li>South Africa has the highest number of rape cases worldwide.<a href="#_edn10" name="_ednref10" title=""><sup>[10]</sup></a> The country is subject to the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act 2007 which applies in South Africa. This law is gender neutral. It states that rape is the illegal and deliberate penetration of sexual act with a complainant without her consent. So this law covers all instances of violence, however men or women.</li><li>It also has provision for support and protection of the victims of sexual offences. This includes access to medical and psychological services, as well as legal aid for the protection of all victims.</li></ol></td></tr><tr><td><p>Australia</p></td><td><ol><li>In Australia, there are also laws against assault applicable on either the federal level or state/territory level. These laws encompass the Crimes Act 1914, the Criminal Code Act 1995 through to various state and territory statutes such as the Crimes Act 1958 in Victoria or the Criminal Code Act 1899 in Queensland.</li><li>In Australia, the legal framework means that all victims of abuse who are in need of protection and support can access services, regardless of their gender. This includes medical aid, counselling and legal assistance. In addition, all states and territories have developed various mechanisms to ensure that victims of crime are provided with extensive support.</li></ol></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><h2>Colourable effect of the new Act</h2><p>On the one hand, the government while introducing these acts has coloured it with the principles of gender neutrality by including gender-neutral definitions in many offences, which is a welcomed change in the community.</p><p>On the other hand, the Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita has completely removed the provisions under Section 377, which means that the protection of men against rape has been removed in the new Act. The offence of ‘rape’ is covered under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which does not provide any protection to a male against sexual assault. This move under the newly enacted Act goes completely against the principles of gender neutrality and contradicts the objective which was proposed by the government while presenting the bills in the Parliament of India.</p><p>Currently, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court which challenges the exclusion of a provision to punish acts of non-consensual sodomy or other ‘unnatural’ sexual relations with any person (man or woman) under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Division bench of the High Court has agreed to hear the matter and listed the same for 13 August 2024.</p><p></p><h2>Way forward</h2><p>There is an urgent need to address these issues of gender neutrality with the newly enacted laws by the Indian Parliament replacing the old criminal laws. Discrimination in any form is a violation of a person’s rights to live with dignity and against discrimination or the basic human right of the protection of one’s body against offences such as sexual assault and rape whether it is a man or a woman or any other gender of LGBTQIA+ community. After analysing the history of Section 377 and protests conducted by the LGBTQI+ community against the discriminating provisions of Section 377 and the Supreme Court striking down, gender neutrality in respect of bodily harm offences is a necessary step to stop discrimination among different genders.</p><p></p><div><strong>Notes</strong><hr size="1" /><div id="edn1"><p><a href="#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><sup>[1]</sup></a> Indian Penal Code 1860 s.377.</p></div><div id="edn2"><p><a href="#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><sup>[2]</sup></a> <em>Naz Foundation v Government of NCT Of Delhi</em> (2009) (6) S.C.C. 712.</p></div><div id="edn3"><p><a href="#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><sup>[3]</sup></a> <em>Suresh Kumar Koushal v Naz Foundation</em> AIR 2014 Supreme Court 563.</p></div><div id="edn4"><p><a href="#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><sup>[4]</sup></a> <em>Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India Ministry of Law and Justice</em> AIR 2018 Supreme Court 4321.</p></div><div id="edn5"><p><a href="#_ednref5" name="_edn5" title=""><sup>[5]</sup></a> Bhartiya Nayay Sanhitha 2023 s 112.</p></div><div id="edn6"><p><a href="#_ednref6" name="_edn6" title=""><sup>[6]</sup></a> Bhartiya Nayay Sanhitha 2023 s 200.</p></div><div id="edn7"><p><a href="#_ednref7" name="_edn7" title=""><sup>[7]</sup></a> Bhartiya Nayay Sanhitha 2023 s 300.</p></div><div id="edn8"><p><a href="#_ednref8" name="_edn8" title=""><sup>[8]</sup></a> Bhartiya Nayay Sanhitha 2023 s 350.</p></div><div id="edn9"><p><a href="#_ednref9" name="_edn9" title=""><sup>[9]</sup></a> Shweta Pathak, ‘A Shift From Gender Centric to Gender Neutral Criminal Laws Precepts of Equality and Justice’ (2020) 2(1) <em>International Journal of Legal Science and Innovation</em> 174–184 <a href="http://www.ijlsi.com/wp-content/uploads/A-Shift-from-Gender-Centric-to-Gender-Neutral-Criminal-Laws-Precepts-of-Equality-and-Justice.pdf" target="_blank">www.ijlsi.com/wp-content/uploads/A-Shift-from-Gender-Centric-to-Gender-Neutral-Criminal-Laws-Precepts-of-Equality-and-Justice.pdf</a> accessed 2 September 2024.</p></div><div id="edn10"><p><a href="#_ednref10" name="_edn10" title=""><sup>[10]</sup></a> World Population Review 2023, <em>Rape Statistics by Country 2023</em> <a href="https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/rape-statistics-by-country" target="_blank">https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/rape-statistics-by-country</a> accessed 2 September 2024.</p></div></div><div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> </div> </div> </div> <ul class="share"> <li> <a data-href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.ibanet.org/new-criminal-laws-legalise-male-rape-in-India" target="_blank" class="fab fa-twitter"></a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.ibanet.org/new-criminal-laws-legalise-male-rape-in-India" target="_blank" class="fab fa-facebook-f"></a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.ibanet.org/new-criminal-laws-legalise-male-rape-in-India" target="_blank" class="fab fa-linkedin-in"></a> </li> </ul> </div></div></div> <div class="container"> <div class="yCmsContentSlot row"> </div></div> <div class="container"> <div class="yCmsContentSlot row"> </div></div> <div class="container"> <div class="yCmsContentSlot row"> </div></div> <div class="container"> <div class="yCmsContentSlot row"> </div></div> <div class="container"> <div class="yCmsContentSlot row"> </div></div> </div> <div class="bg-light border-top printOff"> <footer class="py-5"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="yCmsContentSlot"> <div class="yCmsComponent w-100"> <div class="content"><style type="text/css">footer, .footer-bottom {background: #01277a !important;} .footer-bottom p, footer p, footer address ,footer li, footer a, .footer-bottom a {color: #FFFFFF!important; text-align:left;} .footer-bottom a#ot-sdk-btn.ot-sdk-show-settings{color:#FFFFFF !important;} </style> <div class="col-12 px-0"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12 col-md-3 footerLogoAddress"> <div class="d-inline-flex d-md-block justify-content-cetner align-items-center"><img class="footer-logo mr-4 mr-md-0 mb-md-4" src="/document?id=IBA-logo-white" /> <div> <address> International Bar Association<br /> Chancery House<br /> 53-64 Chancery Lane<br /> London WC2A 1QS<br /> +44 (0) 20 7842 0090 </address> <a class="font-weight-bold mb-3" href="/Contact-the-IBA">Contact the IBA</a><br /> <a class="font-weight-bolder" href="/recruitment">Recruitment</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-9 footerMenus"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12 col-md-4 d-flex justify-content-center"> <ul> <li><a href="/login" style="padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem; border-radius: 0.25rem;border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.5);">Sign in</a></li> <li><a href="/join">Join the IBA <i class="fas fa-arrow-right pl-1"> </i></a></li> <li><a href="/conferences">Conferences & events</a></li> <li><a href="/conference-details/CONF2510">Toronto 2025</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-4 justify-content-center d-none d-md-flex"> <ul> <li class="mb-0" style="border-bottom:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.5);padding-bottom: 7.5px;"><span style="font-size:0.85rem">Global Insight</span></li> <li> <ul style="margin-top: 1rem;padding-left: 0rem;"> <li><a href="/IBA-Global-Insight">Magazine</a></li> <li><a href="/articles?type=PODCASTS">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="/articles?type=FILMS">Films</a></li> <li><a href="/IBA-Digital-Content">All Digital Content</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-4 justify-content-center d-none d-md-flex"> <ul> <li class="mb-0" style="border-bottom:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.5);padding-bottom: 7.5px;"><span style="font-size:0.85rem">Outreach</span></li> <li> <ul style="margin-top: 1rem;padding-left: 0rem;"> <li><a href="https://www.eyewitness.global/" target="_blank">eyeWitness</a></li> <li><a href="/IBAHRI">Human Rights Institute</a></li> <li><a href="/LPRU">Legal Policy & Research Unit</a></li> <li><a href="/ICC-ICL-Programme">ICC & ICL Programme</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-12 footerSocials"> <ul class="d-inline-flex w-100 justify-content-center" style="list-style-type:none;"> <li class="px-2 mb-0 d-flex align-items-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/IBAnews"><img class="img-fluid" src="/document?id=Twitter-X-logo-white" style="width: 22.5px; max-width: 22.5px" /></a></li> <li class="px-2 mb-0 d-flex align-items-center"> <h5 class="border-0 mb-0 pb-0"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/internationalbarassociation/"><i class="fab fa-facebook-f"> </i></a></h5> </li> <li class="px-2 mb-0 d-flex align-items-center"> <h5 class="border-0 mb-0 pb-0"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-bar-association"><i class="fab fa-linkedin-in"> </i></a></h5> </li> <li class="px-2 mb-0 d-flex align-items-center"> <h5 class="border-0 mb-0 pb-0"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFBdK6L4YDBKKL225HciTtA"><i class="fab fa-youtube"> </i></a></h5> </li> <li class="px-2 mb-0 d-flex align-items-center"> <h5 class="border-0 mb-0 pb-0"><a href="https://vimeo.com/ibafilms"><i class="fab fa-vimeo-v"> </i></a></h5> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="d-inline-flex flex-wrap justify-content-center w-100" id="footerCards"><img alt="VISA" class="CardPayment" src="https://checkoutshopper-live.adyen.com/checkoutshopper/images/logos/visa.svg" /> <img alt="MasterCard" class="CardPayment" src="https://checkoutshopper-live.adyen.com/checkoutshopper/images/logos/mc.svg" /> <img alt="American Express" class="CardPayment" src="https://checkoutshopper-live.adyen.com/checkoutshopper/images/logos/amex.svg" /> <img alt="Maestro" class="CardPayment" src="https://checkoutshopper-live.adyen.com/checkoutshopper/images/logos/maestro.svg" /> <img alt="China Union Pay" class="CardPayment" src="https://checkoutshopper-live.adyen.com/checkoutshopper/images/logos/cup.svg" /> <img alt="Diners Club" class="CardPayment" src="https://checkoutshopper-live.adyen.com/checkoutshopper/images/logos/diners.svg" /> <img alt="Discover" class="CardPayment" src="https://checkoutshopper-live.adyen.com/checkoutshopper/images/logos/discover.svg" /> <img alt="JCB" class="CardPayment" src="https://checkoutshopper-live.adyen.com/checkoutshopper/images/logos/jcb.svg" /></div> </div> </div> </div></div></div></div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-6 col-xs-18 "> <div class="yCmsContentSlot"> </div></div> <div class="col-md-6 col-xs-18 "> <div class="yCmsContentSlot"> </div></div> </div> </div> </footer> <div class="yCmsContentSlot"> <div class="yCmsComponent footer-bottom printOff pb-4"> <div class="content"><div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12 text-center"> <p class="mb-0 mt-4"> <span class="d-block d-md-inline" style="font-size:0.9rem;">International Bar Association 2024 ©</span> <a class="d-block d-md-inline my-2 my-md-0 mx-0 mx-md-2" href="/privacy-policy">Privacy policy</a> <a class="d-block d-md-inline my-2 my-md-0 mx-0 mx-md-2" href="/terms-and-conditions">Terms & conditions</a> <a class="d-block d-md-inline my-2 my-md-0 mx-0 mx-md-2 ot-sdk-show-settings" id="ot-sdk-btn">Cookie Settings</a> <a class="d-block d-md-inline my-2 my-md-0 mx-0 mx-md-2" href="/IBA-Harassment-Policy">Harassment policy</a></p> <p class="mt-4" style="font-size:0.75rem;">International Bar Association is incorporated as a Not-for-Profit Corporation under the laws of the State of New York in the United States of America and is registered with the Department of State of the State of New York with registration number 071114000655 - and the liability of its members is limited. Its registered address in New York is c/o Capitol Services Inc, 1218 Central Avenue, Suite 100, Albany, New York 12205.</p> <p style="font-size:0.75rem;">The London office of International Bar Association is registered in England and Wales as a branch with registration number FC028342.</p> </div> </div> </div> <style type="text/css"> footer.py-5{padding-bottom:1rem !important;} footer ul{ list-style-type: none; width: 100%} footer ul li{padding-bottom:15px;} footer ul li ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;} footer ul li a, .footer-bottom a{ font-weight: 400;} .footer-bottom a#ot-sdk-btn.ot-sdk-show-settings{color:#FFFFFF !important;} footer address{font-size:0.9rem;} footer .yCmsContentSlot, footer .row {width: 100%;margin: 0px !important;} img.footer-logo{width:100px;} #footerCards{order:4} #footerCards img.CardPayment{width: 50px; margin: 7.5px;border-radius: 4px;} @media screen and (max-width: 992px) { .footerMenus{order:1; padding: 0px !important;} .footerLogoAddress{order: 3;justify-content: center;display: flex;border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.5);border-radius: 0.25rem;padding: 0.75rem 1rem;} .footerSocials{order:2;padding: 0px !important;} footer ul{padding-left: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px;} #footerCards img.CardPayment {width: calc(14.2% - 15px);margin: 25px 2.5px 0px;} } </style> <style type="text/css"> .main__inner-wrapper{min-height: calc(100vh - 146px);} .account-link.manage-conference:before {content: '\f073' !important;} .my-account__links a {white-space: nowrap;} span.addToFavourites, span.removeFromFavourites {margin-top:3px}} span.addToFavourites a, span.removeFromFavourites a{background: #01277a; padding: 10px 20px; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 400;line-height: 1.5;border-radius: 0.25rem; color: #FFFFFF !important;text-decoration: none !important;cursor:pointer;} .sessionInformation .locationDetails .title { margin: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;} .sessionInformation .sessionDescription{ display: none !important;} @media screen and (max-width: 767px){span.addToFavourites, span.removeFromFavourites {margin-top:15px}} .calendarSection{flex-direction: column !important;} .calendarSection .dropdown-menu, .calendarSection .dropdown-menu.show{position: relative !important;transform: none !important; top: auto !important;width: auto !important;margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px !important;display: inline-flex !important; border: none;} .calendarSection .saveCalendar{display: block !important;cursor: auto;text-decoration: none;color: #333;margin-left: 0px !important;font-weight: 500;} .dropdown .saveCalendar::after{content:none !important;display:none} .calendarSection .dropdown-menu{border: none !important;margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px !important;} .calendarSection .dropdown .dropdown-item {padding: 0px !important;margin-right: 5px;border-width: 1px ; border-style:solid;padding: 5px 7.5px !important;border-radius: 4px;} .calendarSection .dropdown .dropdown-item:nth-child(1):before{content: '\f0e0';font-family:'Font Awesome 5 Free';color: #0F9D58;} .calendarSection .dropdown .dropdown-item:nth-child(3):before{content:'\f0e0';font-family:'Font Awesome 5 Free'; color:#430297;} .calendarSection .dropdown .dropdown-item:nth-child(4):before{content:'\f0e0';font-family: 'Font Awesome 5 Free';color:#7D7D7D} .calendarSection .dropdown .dropdown-item:nth-child(1){border-color: #0F9D58;} .calendarSection .dropdown .dropdown-item:nth-child(2){border-color: #0072C6;} .calendarSection .dropdown .dropdown-item:nth-child(3){border-color: #430297;} .calendarSection .dropdown .dropdown-item:nth-child(4){border-color: #0072C6;} .calendarSection .dropdown .dropdown-item:hover{background: none; color: #01277a;opacity: 0.8;} .page-articleList .committee-box .card .card-body .card-title, #myCommittees .card .card-body .card-title {display: flex!important} .badge-details .guest{color:#70ff07;} .compliantIframe .cookieDisclaimer, #CompliantIframe .cookieDisclaimer{z-index: 2; position: absolute; left: 0px; right: 0px;top: 0px; bottom: 0px;width: 100%;height: 100%;background: #f5f5f5; display: flex; align-items: center;justify-content: center;} .compliantIframe iframe[src], #CompliantIframe iframe[src]{z-index: 3;} .compliantIframe iframe[data-src], #CompliantIframe iframe[data-src]{z-index: 1;} .fa-triangle-exclamation:before{content: "\f071"} .ot-sdk-show-settings{border: none !important; background: none !important;font-size: inherit !important;padding:0px !important;color:#00287a !important;} . </style> </div></div></div></div> </main> <form name="accessiblityForm"> <input type="hidden" id="accesibility_refreshScreenReaderBufferField" name="accesibility_refreshScreenReaderBufferField" value=""/> </form> <div id="ariaStatusMsg" class="skip" role="status" aria-relevant="text" aria-live="polite"></div> <script> /*<![CDATA[*/ var ACC = { config: {} }; ACC.config.contextPath = ''; ACC.config.encodedContextPath = ''; ACC.config.commonResourcePath = '\/_ui\/responsive\/common'; ACC.config.themeResourcePath = '\/_ui\/responsive\/theme-alpha'; ACC.config.siteResourcePath = '\/_ui\/responsive\/site-mex'; ACC.config.rootPath = '\/_ui\/responsive'; ACC.config.CSRFToken = 'e76f6426-4f36-4381-8ce2-4a1a30b185e4'; ACC.pwdStrengthVeryWeak = 'Very weak'; ACC.pwdStrengthWeak = 'Weak'; ACC.pwdStrengthMedium = 'Medium'; ACC.pwdStrengthStrong = 'Strong'; ACC.pwdStrengthVeryStrong = 'Very strong'; ACC.pwdStrengthUnsafePwd = 'password.strength.unsafepwd'; ACC.pwdStrengthTooShortPwd = 'Too short'; ACC.pwdStrengthMinCharText = 'Minimum length is %d characters'; ACC.accessibilityLoading = 'Loading... Please wait...'; ACC.accessibilityStoresLoaded = 'Stores loaded'; ACC.telephoneCodePrefixSymbol = ' '; ACC.config.googleApiKey=''; ACC.config.googleApiVersion='3.7'; ACC.config.registration = {}; ACC.config.registration.countryDetailUrl='/registration/checkout/multi/organisation-information/ajax/countrydetail'; ACC.config.registration.addToCartAjaxUrl='/ajax/cart/add'; ACC.config.registration.addSocialEventsToCartAjaxUrl='/ajax/cart/social-events/add'; ACC.config.registration.noOfGuestsAjaxUrl='/registration/checkout/multi/socials-and-events/ajax/noOfGuests'; ACC.config.registration.guestListAjaxUrl='/registration/checkout/multi/socials-and-events/ajax/guestList'; ACC.config.registration.assignGuestAjaxUrl='/registration/checkout/multi/socials-and-events/ajax/assignGuest'; ACC.config.registration.changeGuestProductAjaxUrl='/registration/checkout/multi/registration-fees/ajax/changeGuestProduct'; ACC.config.registration.guestAttendingCheckAjaxUrl='/registration/checkout/multi/registration-fees/ajax/guestAttendingCheck'; ACC.config.registration.assignGuestToSocial='/registration/checkout/multi/socials-and-events/ajax/assignGuestToSocial'; ACC.config.registration.searchOrganisation='/registration/checkout/multi/organisation-information/asm/ajax/search-organisation'; ACC.config.registration.prePaymentCheckUrl='/registration/checkout/multi/payment-details/ajax/prepayment-check'; ACC.config.registration.product = {}; ACC.config.registration.product.basketSummaryRemoveCartEntryAjaxUrl='/registration/checkout/multi/basket-summary/ajax/cart/removeCartEntry'; ACC.config.registration.conferenceInterestEmailUrl='/interest-registration/ajax/validate-email'; ACC.config.registration.customerRegistrationEmailUrl='/customer-registration/ajax/validate-email'; ACC.config.timeToShowAsmStockReleasePopup=''; ACC.config.asmStockReleaseTime=''; ACC.config.address = {}; ACC.config.address.updateUrl='/registration/checkout/multi/payment-details/updateBillingAddress'; ACC.config.address.resetUrl='/registration/checkout/multi/payment-details/resetFirmAddress'; ACC.config.account = {}; ACC.config.account.autoRenewMembershipAjaxUrl='/my-account/ajax/auto-renew-membership'; ACC.autocompleteUrl = '\/search\/autocompleteSecure'; ACC.config.loginUrl = '\/login'; ACC.config.authenticationStatusUrl = '\/authentication\/status'; ACC['gigyaUserMode'] = 'raas'; ACC.config.onetrustEnabled = true; /*]]>*/ </script> <script> /*<![CDATA[*/ ACC.addons = {}; //JS namespace for addons properties ACC.addons['mexassistedservice'] = []; ACC.addons['mexassistedservice']['asm.timer.min'] = 'min'; ACC.addons['gigyaloginaddon'] = []; ACC.addons['smarteditaddon'] = []; ACC.addons['mexgigyaaddon'] = []; /*]]>*/ </script> <script src="/_ui/shared/js/generatedVariables.js"></script> <script src="/wro/js_responsive.js?v=948153693"></script> <script src="/wro/addons_responsive.js?v=948153693"></script> <script src="https://cdns.eu1.gigya.com/JS/gigya.js?apikey=3_H2S1xzEqSB5FObU6B4UNmvhiX58luRXkck3E1opy36oRFclz72Bz1BBzCCdsaU7b&lang=en"></script> </body> </html>