The Landmark 1979 Rape Case That Transformed India's Legal System and Women's Rights

Nov 13, 2025 04:21 pm CST

In 1979, the Supreme Court's controversial acquittal in the Tukaram vs State of Maharashtra case, involving the custodial rape of a young tribal girl, sparked nationwide outrage and catalyzed India's women's rights movement. Recently acknowledged by Chief Justice BR Gavai as a "moment of institutional embarrassment," this landmark case led to comprehensive legal reforms through the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983, fundamentally changing how consent, custodial rape, and survivor protection are handled in India's legal system.