The Indian government has formally expressed its opposition to the criminalization of marital rape, arguing that such a move would be 'excessively harsh' and could destabilize the institution of marriage. In a series of statements to the Supreme Court, the government maintained that labeling non-consensual sexual acts within marriage as rape would be disproportionate and detrimental to marital relations. Officials emphasized that married women are already provided adequate protections under existing laws and that issues related to marital rape should be addressed through social rather than legal remedies. The Centre's arguments highlight a broader concern about the potential socio-legal implications of altering current definitions of consent within marriage.