Marital rape issue may be listed on early date

{HEARING IN SUPREME COURT} 'IMPORTANT MATTER'

- Utkarsh Anand

The Supreme Court observed on Thursday that petitions on the validity of immunity to husbands from marital rape represent an "important issue" that will have to be heard and decided, agreeing to consider listing the matter on an early date. The case has not been effectively heard since January 2023.

"We will hear the matter. Give me time until evening. We will try and see where we can give a slot between the Constitution bench hearings. It is an important issue that will have to listed," Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud told a bunch of lawyers associated with the case.

In January, matters pertaining to marital rape were listed at least four times before a threejudge bench, which also included justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. However, they could not be heard because the CJI's court has been hearing some important Constitution bench matters, including the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University.