Okhaldhunga District Court has convicted a man of marital rape and sentenced him to three years in prison.

The verdict, hailed by many as a landmark ruling, was handed down last week by Judge Uddhab Prasad Bhattarai, who has also ordered the defendant to pay Rs 25,000 compensation to his partner.

The victim had filed the case of marital rape against her husband two months ago. According to her statement to the court, her husband would often rape and assault her under the influence of alcohol.

Earlier, she had pressed a rape charge against her husband at a local police station. The event led to the man’s arrest, but he was released shortly on a condition of never repeating the crime. When he fell back to his old ways, the woman decided to have a legal recourse.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Dipendra Shah described the court’s verdict as unprecedented.

Very few cases of marital rape reach court, but that could change after what we have witnessed this past week, he added.