Experts & Views
I just came to know through a friend that the parliament through a bill had raised the age for consenting sex from 16 to 18!! Imagine that!! I had sex when I was 17! And I was called a late bloomer by my friends..so I guess if this bill had been passed 10 years ago I would be a criminal in the eyes of the law!!!! And I can’t help but doubt that so are most of teenagers today..the children are reaching puberty faster than before..They have more exposure, less supervision..how is such a law supposed to help them!!When it is just ending up making them look like criminals for something they naturally will be curious about..i.e sex..
I seriously have a hard time when I try to understand any of the laws made in India regarding sex.
Take for instance my friend’s experience. He fell in love with this woman who was not satisfied with her marriage. She had planned on giving her husband a divorce as soon as he returned from a tour he had gone for..but as fate would have it before this could happen my friend and the lady involved had sex..and the worst part? Her husband realised this and has now filed a case against him. And the poor guy can land up in jail for sleeping with the love of his life as per our Indian law which states that in Indian Penal Code Sec 497,
‘Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, is guilty of the offence of adultery, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both. In such case the wife shall not be punishable as an abettor.’
I just cannot understand how sending him to jail is going to be helpful for anyone in this case! Plus it is so orthodox to call the wife a possession of her husband!! All this could have been solved in a civil case easily but then again where would our law makers find fun in that!!
And at last take my own case which happened a few years back.. I fell in love with my secretary but could do not anything about it because of the office rules. But then she came up to me and told me she was ready to give up her job just for being with me. I refused but she convinced me that she could easily find a new job..listening to this I couldn’t contain my emotions and kissed her at the spur of the moment. I never could have imagined what happened next! She told me she had me on the office camera and if I wouldn’t pay her up she would spill the beans on me!! She said that she herself didn’t care about the job and was about to quit anyways..and so to save my ass I had to pay her 2 lacs in cash..and for a young professional like me that was like a fortune..but anyways it was better than getting into thorny legal proceedings or losing my job!!
And so I repeat that Indian laws regarding sex suck! The law shouldn’t care about it! It is not in anyways a legal offence but a moral one and that to in some cases. And so let the society deal with it on its own and laws such like these be repealed.
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All the same, I think there are a few aspects which we cannot ignore altogether. Ours is a rather conservative society which despite all its modernness still looks down upon sexual indulgence. It's ironical that while people are readily accepting of someone who has had an emotionally intense love affair in the past as a partner, they would think 10 times before even considering someone who has had a lustful indulgence... given that it's always tougher to let go of love as compared to lust!
Also, like you rightly pointed out, puberty nowadays is attained much sooner than in the past and the younger generation is more open and experimental in sexual matters. This calls for the law to step in - to keep the check and balance between societal norms and expectations and human urges.
But of course, we could probably do with more carefully drafted laws that instead of sounding so prudish do what they really are meant for, i.e, promoting and preserving civilized living.
U proved u had sex at a young age--what u want ppl to bow down upon u and worship u...
Unprofessional ethics--i have no comment ...get a room dude not office cabin..
U paid her 2 lakhs---remember law has equal degree of stuff written which could have saved you....but u can blabber about ur early sex life...cant face being made a bhakra by a girl ha....grow up.
(1) I guarantee you are from one of those schools where sex is everything - therefore, the constant insistence on how you had sex at such an early age. Yes, you are very cool. I wonder if it was imperative for you to flaunt your 'sexsual' life. Be that as it may..
(2) Section 497 of the IPC is outdated it was enacted in the year 1860. One of the reasons why it is worded in the following manner is because the law believes in the sanctity of marriage. I don't advocate this being correct but just want to highlight the legislative intent.
(3) The regressive bill on legal age for sex, I believe, is much needed for the society. Think about small towns where people aren't cool enough to have sex at 17-18 and be called a late bloomer by their friends. Girls and boys can be lured into consensual sex. Considering the Indian scenario, this is appropriate.
(4) Now, turning to my favorite part of your blog. The sad office story. Awww, poor you! Just one little question, what does this have to do with the "legal system in India"? This is your office policy, several offices allow intra office relationships. Also, if their is a policy in place one must adhere to it and not blame the "Indian Legal System" for its asininity.
When you do get the time please try and read Vishakha and Ors. v. State of Rajasthan and Ors. (AIR 1997 SC 3011)
Just one question lingers my mind, wonder if you're from Delhi.... (no offense)
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