2025, Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part B

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 (CLA), was passed after the public outrage over the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case (known as the Nirbhaya case). This Act brought major changes to laws related to crimes against women in India. It expanded the legal definition of rape, introduced new crimes like stalking and voyeurism, and increased punishments for sexual violence.

This paper looks at how the Act has worked in practice. It uses crime data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), court rulings, and expert opinions to study the Act’s real impact. While the law was a big step forward, problems like police inaction, court delays, and deep-rooted social attitudes have limited its success.