Description:
The offence of rape occurs in Chapter XVI of IPC. It is an
offence affecting the human body. In that Chapter, there is a separate
heading for ’Sexual offence’, which encompasses Sections 375, 376, 376-
A, 376-B, 376-C, and 376-D. ’Rape’ is defined in Section 375. Sections
375 and 376 have been substantially changed by Criminal Law (Amendment)
Act, 1983, and several new sections were introduced by the new Act,
i.e. 376-A, 376-B, 376-C and 376-D. The fact that sweeping changes
were introduced reflects the legislative intent to curb with iron hand,
the offence of rape which affects the dignity of a woman. The offence
of rape in its simplest term is ’the ravishment of a woman, without her
consent, by force, fear or fraud’, or as ’the carnal knowledge of a
woman by force against her will’. ’Rape’ or ’Raptus’ is when a man hath
carnal knowledge of a woman by force and against her will (Co. Litt. #pdf
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