Himachal Court: 'No' Means 'No', Even From Fiancée, in Rape Case

In a landmark ruling, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has affirmed that consent is essential in any sexual relationship. The court emphasized that a 'no' unequivocally means 'no', regardless of the relationship between the individuals involved. This decision was made in a case where the accused claimed that the survivor, his fiancée, had consented to the sexual act. The court rejected this argument, stating that the presence of a pre-existing relationship does not negate the importance of explicit consent.