National

Chhattisgarh High Court Exonerates Husband in Unnatural Sex Case, States Adult Married Women Cannot Claim Rape or Unnatural Acts

Published

1 year ago

February 13, 2025

On Monday, the Chhattisgarh High Court acquitted a husband previously found guilty of rape and unnatural sexual acts against his wife. The bench, led by Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas, ruled that a wife cannot accuse her husband of rape or any unnatural act if both parties are consenting adults. This decision, based on judicial interpretation and prior precedents, has ignited significant debate regarding the legal implications of marital intimacy and consent.

The case originated in December 2017 when a woman from Bodhghat in Jagdalpur reported her husband for allegedly forcing her into an unnatural sexual act against her wishes. Her complaint detailed severe physical harm resulting from the assault, which necessitated hospitalization and ultimately led to her death due to her injuries. The trial court convicted the husband under Sections 376, 377, and 304 of the Indian Penal Code, sentencing him to ten years in prison for non-intentional homicide along with related sexual misconduct charges. However, upon appeal, the High Court overturned the conviction and ordered his immediate release, stating that consensual marital intercourse cannot be classified as rape under current laws.

Justice Vyas, in his judgment, underscored that the act involved body parts typically used in sexual relations. He indicated that the law does not regard a married woman’s consent as a critical factor, given that both individuals are adults, except where the wife is under 15 years old. The ruling, which cited pertinent Supreme Court precedents, effectively limited the scope of prosecutable offenses concerning marital sexual relations.

The decision has sparked divergent responses from legal experts, women’s rights advocates, and the broader civil society. Critics claim the ruling undermines the rights of married women by essentially removing their legal options in cases of coercion or abuse. Legal analyst Shreya Mukherjee commented, “This ruling establishes a concerning precedent by diminishing the importance of consent within marriage for adult women and reinforces outdated legal interpretations.”

Supporters of the ruling argue that it is consistent with established legal principles that assume mutual consent within marriage, warning that any departure from this could jeopardize the sanctity and stability of marital relationships.

In response to the verdict, numerous human rights organizations have urged a comprehensive review of legal definitions regarding marital sexual relations. They call for clearer statutory language that differentiates between consensual acts and genuine cases of abuse. As discussions evolve, the High Court’s decision is likely to inspire additional legal challenges, potentially redefining the landscape of marital rights and consent in India.

National

Delhi Techie Found Dead During Honeymoon Trip

Published

1 day ago

June 17, 2026

Namma Kudla

National: A 27-year-old IT professional from Delhi was found dead at a homestay in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The woman, P Radha Gayatri, had gone on a honeymoon trip with her husband.

According to police, the couple checked into a homestay on June 14. Her husband said they had consumed alcohol and went to sleep late at night.

The next morning, he found Gayatri unconscious on the floor. Police said she was lying in a pool of urine, and blood was coming from her nose. She was declared dead at the scene.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Police are investigating the case and waiting for the autopsy report to determine the cause of death.

National

Pakistan Ranked World’s Most Polluted Country in 2025

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Islamabad: Pakistan has been ranked as the most polluted country in the world in 2025, according to a new report released by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQ Air.

The report found that Pakistan’s average PM2.5 pollution level was 13 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). PM2.5 refers to tiny harmful particles in the air that can enter the lungs and cause serious health problems.

IQ Air said that only 13 countries and territories met the WHO air quality guideline of less than 5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air in 2025. This was an improvement from seven countries in 2024.

The report also revealed that 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories failed to meet the WHO standard.

Bangladesh was ranked as the second most polluted country, while Tajikistan secured the third position. Chad, which was the most polluted country in 2024, ranked fourth in 2025.

Experts said that Chad’s lower ranking may be linked to missing pollution data. In March 2025, the United States ended a global air quality monitoring program due to budget cuts. The program had collected pollution data from US embassies and consulates around the world.

Christi Chester Schroeder, the lead author of the report, said that the loss of data makes it difficult to know the true pollution levels in some countries.

Because of data shortages, Burundi, Turkmenistan and Togo were not included in the 2025 report.

The report also identified Loni in India as the world’s most polluted city. The city recorded an average PM2.5 level of 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter. Hotan in China ranked second with 109.6 micrograms.

According to the report, the 25 most polluted cities in the world were all located in India, Pakistan and China.

Only 14 percent of cities worldwide met the WHO air quality standard in 2025. This was lower than the 17 percent recorded in the previous year.

The report noted that large wildfires in Canada increased air pollution levels across the United States and even affected parts of Europe.

Countries that met the WHO air quality guideline in 2025 included Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama.

Meanwhile, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia reported significant improvements in air quality. Experts said wetter and windier La Niña weather conditions helped reduce pollution levels in these countries.

Mongolia also recorded a 31 percent drop in average PM2.5 levels during the year.

Overall, 75 countries reported lower pollution levels in 2025, while 54 countries experienced an increase in air pollution, according to the IQ Air report

National

Indian Air Force AN-32 Transport Aircraft Crashes

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Dispur: An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday. The aircraft caught fire after the crash.

According to reports, the AN-32 aircraft went down within the premises of the air base. A fire broke out immediately after the accident.

Rescue and firefighting teams rushed to the spot and launched an operation to control the flames. The fire was brought under control after their prompt response.

The exact cause of the crash is not known yet. Authorities are investigating the incident.

So far, there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries. The Indian Air Force has confirmed the accident and said that more details will be shared after a complete assessment of the situation.

Further information is awaited.