The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre what it “thinks of” awarding harsher punishment to persons convicted of raping children. The apex court also asked the Parliament to define ‘child’ in the context of rape.
Replying to a plea seeking castration for child abuse convict, the SC said that there is already a law in place for such cases, so “How can we ask Parliament to make new law?”
The Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association had filed a petition asking for chemical castration for people accused of child abuse. According to the organisation, this is the only solution to curb the menace.
It is now up to the Central government to consider or reject the apex court’s suggestion and turning this into a law is fully the onus of the Parliament.
The Justice JS Verma committee on sexual offences against women rejected the suggestion of chemical castration of rapists in 2013, as it considered handing down such a punishment would violate human rights and that mutilation of the body is not permitted under the Constitution.
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