Sexual assault to replace 'rape' in IPC

New Delhi, Mar 16: The word 'rape would soon be removed from the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as the government is working towards replacing it with 'sexual assault' in an attempt to provide gender-neutral and to broaden the range of crimes covered under the sections.

Official sources said that the home ministry is working on drafting a bill to replace the word 'rape' from nearly 150-year-old Indian Penal Code with 'sexual assault' to widen range of the crimes covered.

Sources said the replacement of 'rape' with sexual assault will cover crimes like sodomy, fingering, insertion of foreign object and other similar offences which do not come under present definition of rape.

Under section 375 of IPC, penetration is sufficient to constitute the sexual intercourse necessary to the offence of rape.

Sources added that 'sexual assault' would ensure gender neutrality, which means that the relevant sections of IPC can be imposed on accused of any gender.

Sexual cirmes against women, men and children will also come under the new provision.

According to sources, the decision can be seen as an effort o prevent sexual crimes among homosexuals.

Homosexuality was decriminalised by the Delhi High Court in 2009.

OneIndia News