MP High Court: Section 377 Not Applicable to Marital Physical Relationships

• Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled Section 377 (unnatural acts like oral sex) cannot be applied to physical relationships between husband and wife.
• The ruling stems from a woman's complaint alleging harassment, dowry demands, and forced sexual acts by her husband.
• Police had registered cases under Section 377, 498A, 354 IPC, and the Dowry Act.
• Justice Milind Ramesh Phadke stated that marital relationships are outside the purview of Section 377, though rape charges can be filed under Section 375.
• The High Court quashed the Section 377 charge against the husband but upheld other charges of cruelty and dowry.