Sexual assault and rape is a heinous crime against the society. The residents of the country are not aware of the existing laws against these crimes and those who are aware, are uncertain about the success rate in instituting similar cases. In most cases, nobody gets to know about the struggles of the victim and how it impacts the victim's mental and physical health.
Shockingly, in 2018, the Thomson Reuters Foundation conducted a poll and India was voted as the most dangerous country for women.

What is sexual assault?

The term 'sexual assault' refers to any sexual contact or inappropriate behaviour without an explicit consent of the victim. Certain forms of sexual assault include:

• Attempt to rape.
• Fondling, groping or unwanted sexual touching.
• Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, such as oral sex or penetrating the perpetrator's body.
• Penetration of the victim's body, also known as rape.
• Age of the victim is not a considered aspect. However, the guilty intention of the accused is vital.

Further, Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 deals with sexual harassment, assault, voyeurism and stalking. It criminalizes any act done by a person that assaults or uses criminal force against a woman with the intention or knowledge of outraging her modesty. It is punishable with either simple or rigorous imprisonment from 1 year up to 7 years, or a fine, or both. Aiding the crime carries the same punishment as well.

Case laws

1. Raju Pandurang Mahale v. State of Maharashtra and Anr. (AIR 2004 SC 1677)
   In this case, the court defined the ingredients that constitute as the essentials of the modesty of a woman.
    
2. State of Punjab v. Major Singh, (AIR 1967 SC 63)
   In this case, the court stated that outraging the modesty of a woman is a punishable offence even if the victim is of a tender age.

What is Rape?

Rape is a form of sexual assault, but not all sexual assault is rape. The term 'rape' is often used to specifically include unlawful sexual intercourse without consent.

• Threats of rape
  Force does not at all times refer to physical pressure. Perpetrators may coerce a victim into non-consensual sex by:
  
  • Emotional coercion
  • Psychological force
  • Manipulation
  • Threats

Rape is a cognizable offence. Section 375 to 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 covers rape.

Under Section 375 a man commits rape upon a woman under following circumstances:

1. Against her will.
2. Without her consent.
3. When her consent is obtained by threat or fear of injury to person she is interested in.
4. When consent is obtained by fraud or misconception of fact person representing to her as husband.
5. With her consent when obtained by reason of unsoundness of mind or state of intoxication.
6. With or without consent when the age of woman is under 18.
7. When she is not able to communicate her interest.

The punishment for rape is stated in Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 as rigorous imprisonment of 7 years to life imprisonment and the person will be liable to pay a fine as well.

Case laws

1. Mukesh and Anr. v. State for NCT of Delhi and Ors.
   This 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, also commonly known as the Nirbhaya case brought the whole country to a halt. It awakened several campaigns for women's rights and safety. It also led towards the passage of Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 which widened the scope and definition of rape. Further, it aided in making the punishment for the crime more stringent.
    
2. Dileep Kumar v. State of Bihar (Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 13864 of 2013)
   In this landmark case, the Apex Court interpreted the Section 375.
    
3. Gurmit Singh v. State of Punjab ((1992) 2 ACC 608)
   In this case, the court held that while holding the accused liable under Section 376, consent and submission are not of same meaning. A consent given under force or duress violates a valid consent.

In the cases Raghubir Singh v. State of Himachal Pradesh (1993 SCR (1)1087)and Mohan Singh v. National territory of Delhi (1978 AIR 1095), the court noted that penetration is sufficient to constitute the offence of rape.

What is voyeurism and stalking?

Voyeurism can be referred to as the act of watching another person in a situation where the person is engaged in a private act and does not expect to be observed by anybody. An example can be for instance when a person is changing in a trial room.

Stalking can be referred to as the behaviour of uninvited and repeated observation or surveillance by a person or group of individuals towards another person. An example can be when a person repeatedly follows a person. This breaches privacy and becomes a security concern as well.

The Criminal Law Amendment of 2013 introduced stalking as a punishable offence under the Indian Penal Code. Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code deals with the offence. However, 'voyeurism' and 'stalking' does not have gender-neutral laws and is assumed to be committed by a man towards a woman.

The offence of stalking is cognizable but bailable in the first conviction and non bailable in the second or subsequent conviction. The punishment for the offence of stalking under the Criminal Procedure Code is extendable up to 3 years of imprisonment and fine when convicted for the first time. Punishment for the second or subsequent conviction may extend to 5 years of imprisonment with fine.

Futhermore, Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 is the provision pertaining to infringement of privacy and impersonation.

Case law
Kalandi Charan Lenka v. State of Orissa
In this case, the victim denied a wedding proposal post which the accused transmitted obscene letters, mail and even published pamphlets with the intent to defame the victim. Moreover, the accused used social platforms as well to harass the victim.

Gap in the Laws
One major gap that has been identified but is yet to be overcome is the necessity for gender neutral laws in India. Primarily rape is a crime that is assumed to be done against women by a man but in the contemporary world, it is time we thought vice versa. Other genders such as males, homosexuals and transgender community are also equally affected by this crime. Rape can happen to any individualregardless of their age, gender or sexual orientation. And therefore, there is a need for gender neutral rape laws that isapplicable to all citizens irrespective of their gender. A male should be able to file a case and in order to make this possible, the gendered language that defines rape in the Indian legislation need to be altered.

Latest news

Comedian comments on Shivaji statue and receives rape threats

Mumbai based stand-up comedian Agrima Joshua commented on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue and thereafter received threats and abuses from Shubham Mishra. He posted a video on his instagram in which he hurled abuses to the comedian as well as to her mother and sister. Soon after, the Vadodara City Police took suomoto action in respect of the abusive and threatening video which was uploaded by Shubham Mishra. They detained him and initiated the legal process for registration of FIR against him under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act.

Dhoni's daughter receives rape threats

After Chennai Super Kings' lost an Indian Premiere League match against Kolkata Night Riders, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's five year old daughter received rape threats on social media. A huge outrage broke out on social media and several cricketers, politicians and celebrities expressed disgust and demanded action. Earlier this weeka 16-year-old boy was nabbed from Mundra in Gujarat for allegedly issuing the threats. The police have said that the teenager "confessed" to have posted the threatening message on the instagram account after the match.

Hathras Rape case

In September 2020, a young Dalit girl aged 19 years died after succumbing to injuries of an alleged gang rape. The incident took place in a field in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh. The four accused belongs to a dominant upper caste and therefore claims to not have committed the offence. Further, after the death of the girl, the police locked the family in their home and cremated her body without allowing the family to bid their last goodbyes. If the series of events stated by the victim's family proves to be true, a grave injustice has taken place, and the nation has risen to the event in order to seek justice.