New Delhi, 7/2:The Delhi High Court on Monday granted two weeks to the Centre to state its stand on petitions seeking criminalisation of marital rape following Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s submission that the government is neither in favour nor against striking down the immunity granted to husbands under the Indian Penal Code.
Mehta emphasised that a “holistic view” has to be taken on criminalising marital rape which is a sensitive socio-legal issue and a request for deferring further hearing was not unjustifiable.
He also clarified that the Centre’s stand on the petitions was reflected in its last affidavit seeking time to undertake a consultative process for a decision.