Delhi High Court says women can also face gang-rape charges for shared intent or assistance

The Delhi High Court delivered a landmark judgment clarifying that the provisions of the gang-rape law are gender-neutral. In its ruling, the bench observed that a woman who either shares the common intention to perpetrate a gang-rape or actively assists in its commission can be prosecuted under the same offence. The decision underscores that participation, not gender, determines liability under the law. Legal experts noted that the judgment expands the scope of existing statutes to ensure that all perpetrators, irrespective of sex, can be held accountable. The ruling is expected to influence future cases involving collaborative sexual violence and reinforce the principle of equal responsibility before the law.