Govt panel urges Centre to criminalise marital rape

  A high-level committee set up by the government of India has recommended criminalising marital rape. According to a report by The Times of India, the Pam Rajput Committee in a recent report submitted to the Ministry of Women and Child Development ministry has recommended that marital rape be considered an offence. This should be irrespective of the wife's age and the relationship between the perpetrator and survivor. Among the other recommendations made by the committee is lowering the age of consent from 18 to 16 and widening the definition of "cruelty" under the anti-dowry act. The committee's recommendations will be discussed on Monday during a meeting including representatives of the government, civil society and NGOs , adds the report.