A measure long overdue finally becomes the law of the land. In landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday did what the legislators have shied away from doing for many years — it has criminalised sex between a man and his minor wife (girl child).

So far, according to the rape law — the age of consent is 18 years, meaning that sex with a minor girl is rape. But unfortunately, in the same breath the law also protected sexual intercourse between a man and his wife being a girl between 15 and 18 years of age. It took away from a girl child who is not mentally and physically mature enough her right to decline sex with her husband.

Before this verdict there also existed duality between the rape law and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Having sexual intercourse with a girl child between 15 and 18 years of age, the husband of the girl child is said to have not committed rape as defined in Section 375 of the IPC but is said to have committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault in terms of Section 5(n) of the POCSO Act.

Despite progressive legislations like POCSO and Juvenile Justice Act, which protect rights of children, girl child/child brides who otherwise are treated as minors under various laws were afforded no protection under the IPC.