SC rejects- Plea to declare laws for sexual assault as gender neutral

A petition which requested Supreme Court to declare the offenses of rape, sexual assault, outraging of modesty, voyeurism and stalking in the Indian Penal Code as gender-neutral was dismissed by SC on Friday.

The SC said that these laws in Indian Penal Code are meant to protect women and only Parliament can change the law.

"These provisions in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) are affirmative provisions to protect women. POCSO Act is gender neutral as it takes care of a child up to 18 years. But, these sections protect women and stand on a different footing," a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra told Rishi Malhotra.

"Legislations come as a response to social and collective cry. These sections are victim-oriented and the Parliament has acknowledged a woman as the victim. We cannot ask Parliament to legislate," Justice Misra added.