Emedinews:Insights on Medicolegal Issues:Medicolegal importance of age up to 15 to 21 years

• 15 years of age: Even if a wife, a girl of age below 15 years cannot give valid consent for sexual intercourse.
• 16 years of age: Any girl below 16 years of age cannot give valid consent for sexual intercourse. It will amount to rape even sexual intercourse done with consent.
• Age 18–21 years:
• In accordance with Indian Majority Act 1875, a person attains majority on completion of 18 years.
• In accordance with Child marriage Resistance Act, a female under 18 years and male under 21 years cannot contract marriage.
• In accordance with Section 366 B of IPC, importation of any girl from Jammu & Kashmir or a foreign country under the age of 21 years for illicit intercourse is a criminal offence.