Independent Thought v. Union of India
(2017) 10 SCC 800 · Supreme Court of India
Sexual intercourse with a wife below eighteen is rape; the marital-rape exception cannot protect child marriage.
Unit II · Law of Crimes
Offences against woman and child: BNS 63–99
Study aid only. Confirm statute numbers with the current bare Act and the official OU LL.B. (3-YDC) 2024–25 syllabus PDF.
Statute sections
| Act / instrument | Section | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 63–64 | Rape and punishment for rape (IPC 375–376) |
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 74–79 | Assault, sexual harassment and related offences against woman (IPC 354–354D) |
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 80 | Dowry death (IPC 304B) |
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 85–86 | Cruelty by husband or relatives (IPC 498A) |
Landmark cases
Satbir Singh v. State of Haryana
(2021) 6 SCC 1 · Supreme Court of India
Once the ingredients of dowry death are proved, the statutory presumption operates and the burden shifts to the accused.