30, April 2025

The age of consent bill: Clash between reformists and realists

VOLUME-8; ISSUE-4; APR-2025

Author(s): Dr. Nisha

Authors Affiliations:

Assistant Professor (Guest Faculty), History, Janta college Charkhi Dadri, Haryana

DOIs:10.2018/SS/202504020     |     Paper ID: SS202504020


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Abstract: This paper analyses the Age of Consent Bill of 1891 which was a landmark legislative reform in colonial India. It sought to raise the age of consent for sexual intercourse for girls from ten to twelve years.  This bill was Introduced by the British colonial government, but the bill was largely a response to public outcry which followed cases like that of Phulmoni Das a young girl who died after being raped by her husband in 1889. The bill aimed to address the issue of child marriage and improve the legal protection of minor girls within the institution of marriage. While it faced opposition from conservative elements who viewed it as an intrusion into religious and social customs. But it also garnered support from Indian social reformers such as Behramji Malabari.  He played a great role in this legislative reform. The legislation marked a significant moment in the history of social reform in India. It highlights tensions between tradition, reform, and colonial governance. The paper will deal with the different views of Indian social reformers on this bill.

 

   
Key Words: age of consent, child marriage, marital rape, gender justice, orthodoxy.

Dr. Nisha(2025); The age of consent bill: Clash between reformists and realists, Shikshan Sanshodhan : Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences,      ISSN(o): 2581-6241,  Volume – 8,   Issue –  4.,  Pp.131-134       Available on –   https://shikshansanshodhan.researchculturesociety.org/

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