India Supreme Court rules sex with child bride is rape

The Supreme Court in India has struck out a legal clause that permits men to have sex with their underage wives.
 
The clause, which was part of India's law on rape, said intercourse between a man and his wife, was permissible as long as she is more than 15 years of age.

The age of consent in India is 18, but marital rape is not considered an offence. 

The verdict has been hailed by women's rights activists.

However reports say the order will be difficult to enforce. 

The judgment said girls under 18 will be able to charge their husbands with rape, as long as they complained within one year of being forced to have sexual relations.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS
---DECRYPTED---