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TMI Blog2004 (5) TMI 620X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ion center. The respondents arrayed in the writ petition are (1) Union of India; (2) Ministry of Law and Justice; and (3) Commissioner of Police, New Delhi. The main reliefs claimed in the writ petition are as under : A) Issue a writ in the nature of a declaration or any other appropriate writ or direction declaring inter alia that "sexual intercourse" as contained in Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code shall include all forms of penetration such as penile/vaginal penetration, penile/oral penetration, penile/anal penetration, finger/vaginal and finger/anal penetration and object/vaginal penetration; B) Consequently, issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of a direction to the respondents and its servants and agents to register all such cases found to be truly on investigation, offences falling within the broadened interpretation of "sexual intercourse" set out in prayer (A) aforesaid as offences under Section 375, 376 and 376A to 376D of the Indian Penal Code, 1860; C) Issue such other writ order or direction as this Hon'ble Court may deem appropriate in the present facts and circumstances. The petition is thus restricted to a declaratory rel ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n, particularly minor girl, children by means and manner other than penile/vaginal penetration is common and may take the form of penile/anal penetration, penile/oral penetration, finger/vaginal penetration or object/ vaginal penetration. It is submitted that by treating such forms of abuse as offenses falling under Section 354 IPC or 377 IPC, the very intent of the amendment of Section 376 IPC by incorporating Sub-section 2(f) therein is defeated. The said interpretation is also contrary to the contemporary understanding of sexual abuse and violence all over the world. 5. The petitioner submits that mere has for some time now been a growing body of feminist legal theory and jurisprudence which has clearly established rape as an experience of humiliation, degradation and violation rather than an outdated notion of penile/vaginal penetration. Restricting an understanding of rape in terms sought to be done by the respondent authorities and its agents reaffirms the view that rapists treat rape as sex and not violence and thereby condone such behavior especially when it comes to sexual abuse of children. 6. In this regard, reference is invited to the observations of a renowned expert ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n 377 IPC, the said section was clearly intended to punish certain forms of private sexual relations perceived as immoral. Despite the same, the petitioner submits, the respondent authorities have, without any justification, registered those cases of sexual violence which would otherwise fall within the scope and ambit of Section 375/376 IPC, as cases of moral turpitude under Section 377 IPC. It is submitted that the respondent authorities and their agents have wrongly strained the language of Section 377 IPC intended to punish "homosexual" behavior to punish more serious cases of sexual violence against women and children when the same ought to be dealt with as sexual offences within the meaning of Section 375/376 IPC in violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India. 8. It is submitted that Article 15(3) of the Constitution of India allows for the State to make special provision for women and children. It follows that "special provision" necessarily implies "adequate" provision. Further, that the arbitrary and narrow interpretation sought to be placed by the respondent authorities and their agents on Section 375/376 renders the effecti ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... not be so clarified in the Explanation to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code. (d) Whether a restrictive interpretation of "penetration" in the Explanation to Section 375 (rape) defeats the very purpose and intent of the provision for punishment for rape under Section 376(2)(f) "Whosoever commits rape on a woman when she is under twelve years of age." (e) Whether, penetration abuse of a child below the age of 12 should no longer be arbitrarily classified according to the 'type' of penetration (ignoring the 'impact' on such child) either as an "unnatural offence" under Section 377 IPC for penile/oral penetration and penile/anal penetration or otherwise as "outraging the modesty of a woman" under Section 354 for finger penetration or penetration with an inanimate object. (f) Whether non-consensual penetration of a child under the age of 12 should continue to be considered as offences under Section 377 ("Unnatural Offences") on par with certain forms of consensual penetration (such as consensual homosexual sex) where a consenting party can be held liable as an abettor or otherwise. (g) Whether a purposive/tele ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... body of another person other than penile penetration is considered to be unnatural and has to be dealt with under Section 377 IPC. Section 376(2)(f) provides stringent punishment for committing rape on a woman when she is under the age of 12 years. Child sexual abuse of any nature, other than penile penetration, is obviously unnatural and are to be dealt with under Section 377 IPC. It is further submitted that Section 354 IPC provides for punishment for assault or criminal force to woman to outrage her modesty. Unnatural sexual offences can not be brought under the ambit of this Section. Rape defined under Section 375 is penile/vaginal penetration and all other sorts of penetration are considered to be unnatural sexual offences. Section 377 provides stringent punishment for such offences. It is denied that provisions of Sections 375, 376 and 377 are violative of fundamental rights, under Articles 14, 15(3) and 21 of the Constitution of India. Sexual penetration as penile/anal penetration, finger/vaginal and finger/anal penetration and object and vaginal penetration are most unnatural forms of perverted sexual behavior for which Section 377 provides stringent punishment. 11. Ms. M ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... blishment of social programmes to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as for other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement. 12. In support of her submission, learned counsel has referred to following passage of statutory interpretation by F.A.R. Bennion (Butterworths -- 1984) at page 355-357 : "While it remains law, an Act is to be treated as always speaking. In its application on any date, the language of the Act, though necessarily embedded in its own time, is nevertheless to be construed in accordance with the need to treat it as current law. It is presumed that Parliament intends the Court to apply to an ongoing Act a construction that continuously updates its wording to allow for changes since the Act was initially framed. In particular where, owing to developments occurring since the original passing of an enactment, a counter-mischief comes into existence or increases, it is presumed that Parliament intends the Court so to construe the enactm ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e interpreting any of the provisions of the Act and a purposive approach is necessary. Accordingly, the words "at or before or after the marriage as consideration for the marriage" occurring in Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act were interpreted to mean demand of dowry at the "negotiation stage" as a consideration for proposed marriage and "marriage" was held to include the "proposed marriage" that may not have taken place. Reference is also made to Directorate of Enforcement v. Deepak Mahajan and Anr. 1994CriLJ2269 , wherein it was held that a mere mechanical interpretation of the words devoid of concept or purpose will reduce most of legislation to futility and that it is a salutary rule, well established, that the intention of the legislature must be found by reading the Statute as a whole. Accordingly, certain provisions of FERA and Customs Act were interpreted keeping in mind that the said enactments were enacted for the economic development of the country and augmentation of revenue. The Court did not accept the literal interpretation suggested by the respondent therein and held that Sub-section (1) and (2) of Section 167 Cr.P.C. ar ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... he interpretation and approach should, so far as possible, be adopted which treats the ladder of offences as a coherent body of law. Learned counsel has laid emphasis on the following passage in the judgment : "The proposition that the Victorian, legislator when enacting Sections 18, 20 and 47 of the Act 1861, would not have had in mind psychiatric illness is no doubt correct. Psychiatry was in its infancy in 1861. But the subjective intention of the draftsman is immaterial. The only relevant enquiry is as to the sense of the words in the context in which they are used. Moreover the Act of 1861 is a statute of the "always speaking" type : the statute must be interpreted in the light of the best current scientific appreciation of the link between the body and psychiatric injury." It has thus been contended that the words "sexual intercourse" occurring in Section 375 IPC must be given a larger meaning than as traditionally understood having regard to the monstrous proportion in which the cases of child abuse have increased in recent times. She has also referred to a decision of Constitutional Court of South Africa in the National Coalition for Gay and ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... d that International Treaties ratified by India can be taken into account for framing guidelines in respect of enforcement of fundamental rights but only in absence of municipal laws as held in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan AIR1997SC3011 and Lakshmi Kant Pandey v. Union of India [1984]2SCR795 . When laws are already existing, subsequent ratification of International Treaties would not render existing municipal laws ultra vires of Treaties in case of inconsistency. In such an event the State through its legislative wing can modify the law to bring it in accord with Treaty obligations. Such matters are in the realm of State policy and are, therefore, not enforceable in a Court of law. He has further submitted that in International law, ratified Treaties can be deemed interpreted in customary law unless the former are inconsistent with the domestic laws or decisions of its judicial Tribunals. The decision of the International Tribunal for the Crimes committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia cannot be used for interpretation of Section 354 and 375 IPC and other provisions. Even decisions of International Court of Justice are binding only on the parties to a dispute or interve ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... y, disability or legal relationship would be inconsistent with the fundamental public policy of English law." With regard to penal law, it has been stated as under : "The common law considers crimes as altogether local, and cognizable and punishable exclusively in the country where they are committed.... Chief Justice Marshall, in delivering the opinion of the Supreme Court, said : 'The Courts of no country execute the penal laws of another'." 17. This Court on 13.1.1998 referred the matter to the Law Commission of India for its opinion on the main issue raised by the petitioner, namely, whether all forms of penetration would come within the ambit of Section 375 IPC or whether any change in statutory provisions need to be made, and if so, in what respect ? The Law Commission had considered some of the matters in its 156th Report and the relevant extracts of the recommendation made by it in the said Report, concerning the issue involved, were placed before the Court. Para 9.59 of the Report reads as under : "9.59 Sexual-child abuse may be committed in various forms such as sexual intercourse, carnal intercourse and sexual assaults. The cases involvi ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ginal penetration, penile/oral penetration, penile/anal penetration, finger/vagina and finger/anal penetration and object/vaginal penetration within its ambit. Section 375 uses the expression "sexual intercourse" but the said expression has not been defined. The dictionary meaning of the word "sexual intercourse" is heterosexual intercourse involving penetration of the vagina by the penis. The Indian Penal Code was drafted by the First Indian Law Commission of which Lord Mecaulay was the President. It was presented to the Legislative Council in 1856 and was passed on October 6, 1860. The Penal Code has undergone very few changes in the last more than 140 years. Except for clause sixthly of Section 375 regarding the age of the woman (which in view of Section 10 denotes a female human being of any age) no major amendment has been made in the said provision. Sub-section (2) of Section 376 and Sections 376A to 376D were inserted by Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983 but Sub-section (2) of Section 376 merely deals with special types of situations and provides for a minimum sentence of 10 years. It does not in any manner alter the definition of 'rape' as given ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ed under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence. 21. The decision of Constitutional Court of South Africa cited by learned counsel for the petitioner does not commend to us as the Court there treated "Gays and Lesbian in permanent same sex life partnerships" at par with "spouses" and took upon itself the task of Parliament in holding that in Section 25(5) of the Aliens Control Act, after the word "spouse", the words "or partner in a permanent same sex life partnership" should be read. The decision of House of Lords in R. v. R. was given on its own facts which deserve notice. Here the wife had left her matrimonial home with her son on 21st October, 1989 and went to live with her parents. She had consulted solicitors about matrimonial problems and had left a letter for the husband informing him that she intended to petition for divorce. On 23rd October, 1989 the husband spoke to his wife on telephone indicating that it was his intention also to seek divorce. In the night of 12th November, 1989 the husband forced his way into the house of his wife's parents, who were out at that time and attempted to have sexual inter ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ocess of judicial interpretation, and that too when there is no ambiguity in the provisions of the enactment is bound to result in good deal of chaos and confusion, and will not be in the interest of society at large. 23. Stare decisis is a well known doctrine in legal jurisprudence. The doctrine of stare decisis, meaning to stand by decided cases, rests upon the principle that law by which men are governed should be fixed, definite and known, and that, when the law is declared by court of competent jurisdiction authorised to construe if, such declaration, in absence of palpable mistake or error, is itself evidence of the law until changed by competent authority. It requires that rules of law when clearly announced and established by a Court of last resort should not be lightly disregarded and set aside but should be adhered to and followed. What it precludes is that where a principle of law has become established by a series of decisions, it is binding on the Courts and should be followed in similar cases. It is a wholesome doctrine which gives certainty to law and guides the people to mould their affairs in future. 24. In Mishri Lal v. Dhierendra Nath [1999]2SCR453 importance o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... y result." 16. The statement though deserves serious consideration in the event of a definite finding as to the perpetration of a grave wrong but that by itself does not denude me time-tested doctrine of stare decisis of its efficacy. Taking recourse to the doctrine would be an imperative necessity to avoid uncertainty and contusion. The basic feature of law is its certainty and in the event of there being uncertainty as regards the state of law - the society would be in utter confusion the resultant effect of which would bring about a situation of chaos - a situation which ought always to be avoided. 21. In this context reference may also be made to two English decisions: (a) in Admiralty Commrs. v. Valverda (Owners) 1938 AC 173 (AC at p. 194) wherein the House of Lords observed that even long established conveyancing practice, although not as authoritative as a judicial decision, will cause the House of Lords to hesitate before declaring it wrong, and (b) in Button v. Director of Public Prosecution 1966 AC 591 the House of Lords observed : "In Corpus Juris Secundum, a contemporary statement of American Law, the stare decisis rule has been stated to be a princip ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ing former decisions of this House as normally binding, to depart from a previous decision when it appears right to do so. In this connection they will boar in mind the danger of disturbing retrospectively the basis on which contracts, settlements of property and fiscal arrangements have been entered into and also the especial need for certainty as to the criminal law. This announcement is not intended to affect the use of precedent elsewhere than in this House." 26. While making the above statement a rule of caution was sounded that while departing from a previous decision when it appears right to do so, the especial need for certainty as to criminal law shall be borne in mind. There is absolutely no doubt or confusion regarding the interpretation of provisions of Section 375 IPC and the law is very well settled. The inquiry before the Courts relate only to the factual aspect of the matter which depends upon the evidence available on the record and not on the legal aspect. Accepting the contention of the writ petitioner and giving a wider meaning to Section 375 IPC will lead to a serious confusion in the minds of prosecuting agency and the Courts which instead of achievi ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ke appropriate measures to ensure that such person is not confronted by the accused while at the same time ensuring the right of cross-examination of the accused.". 29. Ms. Meenakshi Arora has referred to a decision of the Canadian Supreme Court in Her Majesty The Queen, Appellant v. D.O.L., Respondent and the Attorney General of Canada, etc. (1993) 4 SCR 419, wherein the constitutional validity of Section 715. 1 of the Criminal Code was examined. This section provides that in any proceeding relating to certain sexual offences in which the complainant was under age of eighteen years at the time the offence is alleged to have been committed, a videotape made within a reasonable time after the alleged offence in which the complainant describes the act complained of, is admissible in evidence, if the complainant while testifying adopts the contents of the videotape. The Court of Appeal had declared Section 715. 1 unconstitutional on the ground that the same contravened Sections 7 and 11(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and could not be sustained under Section 1. The Supreme Court took note of some glaring features in such type of cases viz. the innate power imba ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... itutionalised into unaltered principles of fundamental justice. Neither should they be interpreted in a restrictive manner which may essentially defeat their purpose of seeking truth and justice. Rules of evidence, as much as the law itself, are not cast in stone and will evolve with time. The Court accordingly reversed the judgment of Court of Appeal and upheld the constitutionality of Section 715. 1. 30. We will briefly refer to the statutory provisions governing the situation. Section 273 Cr.P.C. lays down that except as otherwise expressly provided, all evidence taken in the course of the trial or other proceedings shall be taken in the presence of the accused, or when his personal attendance is dispensed with, in the presence of his pleader. Sub-section (1) of Section 327 Cr.P.C. lays down that any Criminal Court enquiring into or trying any offence shall be deemed to be open Court to which the public generally may have access, so, far as the same can conveniently contain them. Sub-section (2) of the same Sections says that notwithstanding anything contained in Sub-section (1) the inquiry into the trial of rape or an offence under Section 376, Section 376A, Section 376B, Sect ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... hat out of the feeling of shame or embarrassment, the victim may not speak out or give details of certain acts committed by the accused. It will, therefore, be better if the questions to be put by the accused in cross-examination are given in writing to the Presiding Officer of the Court, who may put the same to the victim or witnesses in a language which is not embarrassing. There can hardly be any objection to the other suggestion given by the petitioner that whenever a child or victim of rape is required to give testimony, sufficient breaks should be given as and when required. The provisions of Sub-section (2) of Section 327 Cr.P.C. should also apply in inquiry or trial of offences under Section 354 and 377 IPC. 33. In State of Punjab v. Gurmit Singh 1996CriLJ1728 this Court had highlighted the importance of provisions of Section 327(2) and (3) Cr.P.C. and a direction was issued not to ignore the mandate of the aforesaid provisions and to hold the trial of rape cases in camera. It was also pointed out that such a trial in camera would enable the victim of crime to be a little comfortable and answer the questions with greater ease and thereby improve the quality of evidence of ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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