CONCLUSION 172nd Report of the Law Commission India

CONCLUSION

172nd Report of the Law Commission India

 7.1.   On  the  basis of the discussions contained in the preceding chapters, the Commission is  of  the  considered opinion  that  the following amendments need to be carried out in the Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Code  of  Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

7.2.   Changes recommended in the Indian Penal Code, 1860

7.2.1. Substitution  of  existing  section 375 of the IPC recommended.- The existing section 375 be  substituted  by the following:

"375.  Sexual Assault:  Sexual assault means –

a)   penetrating the vagina (which term  shall  include the  labia  majora),  the  anus  or urethra of any person with –i).   any part of the body of another person or ii).  an  object  manipulated  by another person except where such penetration is carried  out  for proper hygienic or medical purposes;

b)   manipulating any  part  of  the  body  of  another person  so  as  to cause penetration of the vagina (which term shall include the labia  majora),  the anus or the urethra of the offender by any part of the other person's body;

c)   introducing any part of the penis of a person into the mouth of another person;

d)   engaging in cunnilingus or fellatio; or

e)   continuing  sexual  assault  as defined in clauses (a) to (d) above in circumstances falling  under  any  of  the  six following descriptions:

First- Against the other person's will.

Secondly- Without the other person's consent.

Thirdly- With the other person's consent when such consent  has been obtained by putting such other person or any person in whom such other  person  is  interested,  in fear of death or hurt.

Fourthly- Where the other person is a female, with her consent, when the man knows that he is not the husband of such other person and that her consent is given because she  believes that the offender is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married.

Fifthly- With the consent  of  the  other  person, when,  at  the  time  of giving such consent, by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication or the  administration by  the  offender  personally  or  through  another of any stupefying or unwholesome substance, the other  person  is unable  to  understand the nature and consequences of that to which such other person gives consent.

Sixthly-  With  or  without  the  other   person's consent,  when such other person is under sixteen years of age.

Explanation:  Penetration to any extent is penetration for the purposes of this section.

Exception:  Sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under sixteen  years  of  age,  is  not sexual assault."

Further we are not satisfied  that  the  Exception should be deleted.

                       (paragraphs 3.1.2 and 3.1.2.1, supra)

7.2.2. Recasting  of section 376 of the IPC recommended.-Section 376 shall be recast as follows:

"376.  Punishment  for  sexual  assault  -

(1)  Whoever, except  in  the  cases  provided  for  by sub-section (2), commits sexual assault shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not  be  less than  seven  years but which may be for life or for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable  to fine  unless the person subjected to sexual assault is his own wife and is not under sixteen years of age,  in  which case,  he  shall  be  punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

If the sexual assault is committed by a person  in a  position  of  trust  or  authority  towards  the personassaulted or by a near relative of the  person  assaulted, he/she  shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which  may extend  to  life  imprisonment and shall also be liable to fine.

Provided  that  the  court  may,  for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose  a sentence  of  imprisonment for a term of less than minimum punishment prescribed in this sub-section.

(2) Whoever,-

(a) being a police officer commits sexual assault-

(i) within the limits of  the  police  station  to which he is appointed; or

(ii) in the premises of any station house whether or not situated in the  police  station  to  which  he  is appointed; or

(iii) on a person in his custody or in the custody of a police officer subordinate to him; or

(b) being a public servant, takes advantage of his official position and commits sexual assault on  a  person in his custody as such public servant or in the custody of a public servant subordinate to him; or

(c) being on the management or on the staff  of  a jail, remand home or other place of custody established by or  under  any  law  for  the  time being in force or of a women's or children's institution takes advantage  of  his official position and commits sexual assault on any inmate of such jail, remand home, place or institution; or

(d)  being  on the management or on the staff of a hospital, takes advantage of  his  official  position  and commits sexual assault on a person in that hospital; or

(e)  commits sexual assault on a woman knowing her to be pregnant; or

(f) commits sexual assault on a person  when  such person is under sixteen years of age; or

(g) commits gang sexual assault, shall  be  punished  with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but  which  may  be for life and shall also be liable to fine :

Provided  that  the  court  may,  for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose  a sentence  of imprisonment of either description for a term of less than ten years.

Explanation 1.- Where a  person  is  subjected  to  sexual assault  by  one  or  more in a group of persons acting in furtherance of their common intention, each of the persons shall be deemed to  have  committed  gang  sexual  assault within the meaning of this sub-section.

Explanation  2.- "Women's or children's institution" means an institution, whether called an orphanage or a home  for neglected  women  or  children  or  a  widows'  home or an institution called by any other name, which is established and maintained for the reception  and  care  of  women  or children.

Explanation 3.- "Hospital"  means  the  precincts  of  the hospital and includes the precincts of any institution for the    reception   and   treatment   of   persons   during convalescence or of persons requiring medical attention or

rehabilitation."

                               (paragraph 3.2.3, supra)

7.2.3. Modification   in   section   376A   of   the  IPC recommended.- Section 376A shall read as follows:

"376A. Sexual assault by the husband upon his wife during separation.- Whoever commits sexual assault upon his wife, who is living  separately  from  him  under  a  decree  of separation  or  under  any  custom  or  usage, without her consent, shall be punished  with  imprisonment  of  either description  for  a  term which shall not be less than two years and which may extend to seven years and  shall  also be liable to fine."

                               (paragraph 3.3.1, supra)

7.2.4. Amendment of sections 376B,  376C  and  376D.-  We recommend  enhancement  of  punishment  -  with  a minimum punishment of not less than five  years.    We  have  also added  an  Explanation  which  will govern all these three sections.  The Explanation defines "sexual intercourse" to mean any of the acts mentioned in clauses (a)  to  (e)  of section 375.    Explanation  to  section  375 will however apply even in the case of sexual intercourse as defined by the Explanation to this section.

Accordingly,  the modified sections 376B, 376C and 376D of the IPC shall read as follows:

"376B. Sexual intercourse by public servant  with  person in  his  custody.-  Whoever, being a public servant, takes advantage of his/her  official  position  and  induces  or  seduces  any  person,  who  is  in his/her custody as such  public servant or in  the  custody  of  a  public  servant subordinate  to  him,  to  have  sexual  intercourse  with him/her, such sexual  intercourse  not  amounting  to  the offence   of   sexual  assault,  shall  be  punished  with  imprisonment of either description for a term which  shall not  be  less  than five years and which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.

Provided that the  court  may,  for  adequate  and special  reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a  term  of  less  than  five years.

Explanation:   "Sexual  intercourse"  in  this section and sections  376C  and  376D  shall  mean  any  of  the  acts mentioned   in   clauses   (a)  to  (e)  of  section  375.

Explanation to section 375 shall also be applicable."

"376C. Sexual  intercourse  by  superintendent  of  jail, remand  home,  etc.-  Whoever, being the superintendent or manager of a jail, remand home or other place  of  custody established  by  or  under  any  law for the time being in force or of a  women's  or  children's  institution  takes advantage  of  his/her  official  position  and induces or seduces any inmate of such jail,  remand  home,  place  or institution  to have sexual intercourse with him/her, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of  sexual  assault,  shall  be  punished  with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less  than  five years  and which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.

Provided that the  court  may,  for  adequate  and special  reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a  term  of  less  than  five years.

Explanation  1.-  "Superintendent"  in relation to a jail, remand home or other place of  custody  or  a  women's  or children's institution includes a person holding any other office  in such jail, remand home, place or institution by virtue of which  he/she  can  exercise  any  authority  or control over its inmates.

Explanation  2.-  The  expression  "women's  or children's institution" shall have the same meaning as in Explanation 2 to sub-section (2) of section 376.

376D.  Sexual intercourse by any member of the management or  staff  of a hospital with any woman in that hospital.- Whoever, being on the management of a hospital or being on the  staff  of  a  hospital  takes  advantage  of  his/her position  and  has  sexual  intercourse with any person in that hospital, such sexual intercourse  not  amounting  to the  offence  of  sexual  assault,  shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which  shall not  be  less  than five years and which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.

Provided  that  the  court  may,  for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose  a sentence  of  imprisonment  for  a  term of less than five years.

Explanation.- The expression  "hospital"  shall  have  the same  meaning  as  in  Explanation 3 to sub-section (2) of section 376."

                               (paragraphs 3.4 & 3.4.1, supra)

7.2.5. Insertion of new section 376E recommended.- A  new section,  namely,  section  376E be inserted in the IPC in the following terms:

 "376E. Unlawful sexual contact.- (1) Whoever, with sexual intent, touches, directly or indirectly, with  a  part  of the  body  or  with  an  object,  any  part of the body of another person, not  being  the  spouse  of  such  person, without  the  consent  of  such  other  person,  shall  be punished with simple imprisonment for  a  term  which  may extend to two years or with fine or with both.

(2)    Whoever,  with sexual intent, invites, counsels or incites a young person to touch, directly  or  indirectly, with a part of the body or with an object, the body of any person,  including  the body of the person who so invites, counsels or  incites,  or  touches,  with  sexual  intent, directly or indirectly, with a part of the body or with an object  any  part  of the body of a young person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

(3)    Whoever being in a position of trust or  authority towards  a young person or is a person with whom the young person  is  in  a  relationship  of  dependency,  touches, directly or indirectly, with sexual intent, with a part of the  body  or with an object, any part of the body of such young person,  shall  be  punished  with  imprisonment  of either  description  which  may  extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation:   "Young  person"  in  this  sub-section  and sub-section  (2)  means  a person below the age of sixteen years."

                               (paragraphs 3.5 & 3.5.1, supra)

7.2.6. Deletion   of   section  377.-  Section  377,  IPC deserves to  be  deleted  in  the  light  of  the  changes effected by  us  in section 375 to 376E.  We leave persons having carnal intercourse with any animal, to  their  just deserts.

                               (paragraph 3.6, supra)

7.2.7. Amendment of section 509, IPC.- We recommend  that the existing section 509 be amended as follows:

"509.  Word,  gesture  or  act  intended  to  insult  the modesty of a woman:

Whoever,  intending  to  insult the modesty of any woman, utters any word, makes any  sound  or  gesture,  or exhibits  any  object  intending  that  such word or sound shall be heard, or that such gesture or  object  shall  be seen,  by such woman, or intrudes upon the privacy of such woman, shall be punished with simple  imprisonment  for  a term  which  may  extend  to three years and shall also be liable to fine."

                               (paragraph 3.7, supra)

7.2.8. New  section  166A, IPC recommended.- We recommend that a new section 166A be introduced in the  IPC  in  the following terms:

"166A.  Whoever, being a public servant-

(a)  knowingly  disobeys  any direction of the  law  prohibiting  him  from   requiring   the attendance  at  any  place  of  any person for the purpose of investigation into an offence or  other matter, or

(b) knowingly disobeys any other direction of the law regulating the manner in which he shall conduct  such  investigation,  to the prejudice of any person, shall be  punished  with  imprisonment for  a  term  which may extend to one year or with fine or with both."

                       (paragraphs 3.8 & 3.8.1, supra)

7.2.9. No  definition  of  the  expression  "consent"  is called for at this stage.

                               (paragraph 3.9, supra)

7.3.   Changes  recommended  in  the  Code  of   Criminal Procedure, 1973

7.3.1. Insertion  of  sub-sections (3) and (4) in section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.- We recommend that the following two sub-sections be inserted in section160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure:

"(3) Where under this chapter, the statement of  a female   is   to   be  recorded  either  as  first information of an offence or in the course  of  an  investigation  into an offence and she is a person against whom an offence under sections  354,  375, 376,  376A,  376B,  376C, 376D, 376E or 509 of the Indian  Penal  Code  is  alleged  to   have   been committed  or  attempted,  the  statement shall be recorded by a female police officer and in case  a female  police  officer  is  not  available,  by a female  government  servant   available   in   the vicinity  and  in case a female government servant is also not available, by a female  authorised  by  an organisation interested in the welfare of women or children.

(4)  Where  in  any  case none of the alternatives mentioned in sub-section (3) can be  followed  for the reason that no female police officer or female government  servant  or  a female authorised by an organisation interested in the  welfare  of  women and  children  is available, the officer in charge of the police station shall, after  recording  the reasons  in writing, proceed with the recording of the  statement  of  such  female  victim  in   the presence of a relative of the victim."

               (paragraphs   4.2.3  &  4.2.3.1, supra)

7.3.2. Modification  of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 160.- We recommend raising the  age  mentioned  in the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 160 from fifteen years to sixteen years.

                               (paragraph 4.3, supra)

7.3.3. Substitution  of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 160 recommended.- We recommend that in addition to the above modification, the proviso to sub-section (1)  of section 160 be substituted to read as follows:

"Provided that no male person under the age of  16 years  or woman shall be required to attend at any place other than the  place  in  which  such  male person or  woman  resides.    While  recording the statement, a relative or  a  friend  or  a  social worker of the choice of the person whose statement is  being  recorded  shall  be  allowed  to remain present.  The relative, friend or social worker so allowed to be present shall not interfere with the  recording of statement in any manner whatsoever."

               (paragraphs 4.3.1 & 4.3.2, supra)

7.3.4. Insertion of a new section, namely,  section  164A in  the  Code  of  Criminal Procedure, 1973.- We recommend that the following section 164A be inserted in the Code of Criminal Procedure:

"164A.   (1)  Where, during the stage when any  offence  under  section  376,  section  376A, section   376B,  section  376C,  section  376D  or section 376E is  under  investigation  and  it  is proposed  to  get the victim examined by a medical expert, such examination shall be conducted  by  a registered  medical practitioner, with the consent of the victim or of some person competent to  give such consent on his/her behalf.  In all cases, the victim should be sent for such examination without any delay.

Provided that if the victim happens to  be a   female,   the  medical  examination  shall  be conducted by a female medical officer, as  far  as possible.

(2) The registered medical practitioner to whom  the  victim is forwarded shall without delay examine  the   person   and   prepare   a   report  specifically   recording   the   result   of   his examination and giving the following details:

(i) the name and address of the victim and the person by whom he/she was brought,

(ii) the age of the victim,

(iii)  marks  of  injuries, if any, on the person of the victim,

(iv)  general  mental  condition  of   the victim and

(v)   other   material   particulars,   in reasonable detail.

(3)  The  report shall state precisely the reasons for each conclusion arrived at.

(4) The report shall  specifically  record that  the  consent of the victim or of some person competent to give such consent on  his/her  behalf to such examination had been obtained.

(5)  The  exact  time  of commencement and completion of the examination shall also be  noted in   the   report,   and  the  registered  medical practitioner  shall  without  delay,  forward  the report  to  the  investigating  officer, who shall forward  it  to  the  Magistrate  referred  to  in section  173  as part of the documents referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (5) of that section.

(6)  Nothing  in  this  section  shall  be construed  as  rendering  lawful  any  examination without the consent of the victim  or  any  person competent to give such consent on his/her behalf."

                       (paragraphs 4.5.1 and 4.5.2, supra)

7.3.5. Insertion  of  new  section  53A  in  the  Code of Criminal Procedure recommended.- The proposed section  53A shall read as follows:

"53A. (1)  When  a  person accused of any of the offences under sections  376,  376A,  376B,  376C, 376D or 376E or of an attempt to commit any of the said  offences,  is arrested and an examination of his/her person is to be made under  this  section, he/she   shall   be  sent  without  delay  to  the registered medical practitioner by whom he/she  is to be examined.

(2)  The  registered  medical practitioner conducting such examination  shall  without  delay examine   such   person   and   prepare  a  report specifically   recording   the   result   of   his examination and giving the following particulars:

(i)  the  name  and address of the accused and the  person  by  whom  he  was brought,

(ii) the age of the accused,

(iii)  marks of injury, if any, on the person of the accused, and

(iv) other material particulars in reasonable detail.

(3) The report shall state  precisely  the reasons for each conclusion arrived at.

(4)  The  exact  time  of commencement and completion of the examination shall also be  noted in   the   report,   and  the  registered  medical practitioner shall,  without  delay,  forward  the report  to  the  investigating  officer, who shall forward  it  to  the  Magistrate  referred  to  in section  173  as part of the documents referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (5) of that section."

                       (paragraph 4.6.2, supra)

7.3.6. Consequential  amendments in the First Schedule to the  Code  of  Criminal  Procedure,   1973   recommended.

Consequent  upon  the  proposed amendments in the IPC, the existing entries in respect of sections 376 to  376D,  377 and  509  will have to be substituted and entry in respect of new section 376E, IPC  will  have  to  be  inserted.