"Bite The Bullet": Delhi High Court Chides Centre For Indecision On Marital Rape

"You have to take a stand this way or that way," the Court said after Mr Mehta submitted that the Centre was waiting fr responses from all states.

The Delhi High Court on Monday chided the Centre for dilly-dallying on the criminalisation of marital rape. You have to "bite the bullet", the court said after the Centre submitted that it will only take a stand after consultation with all states, union territories and other stakeholders. 

"You have to bite the bullet. If you say the court should adjourn the matter endlessly, it won't happen," the High Court told the Centre and added that a decisive executive has to say "yes or no". 

Rejecting the central government's request to defer the matter till comments from all stakeholders are received and ordered, the court reserved its judgement. The matter has now been listed on March 2, and the lawyers for all the parties have been directed to file their written submissions in the meantime. 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the government. Arguing that the issue had "far-reaching socio-legal implications" in the country, he said that a meaningful consultative process with various stakeholders including the state government was needed.