The Supreme Court has demanded a response from the government on a public interest petition filed demanding to enact laws related to chemical castration of sexual offenders. | Photo credit: PTI
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the government to respond to a public interest petition to enact a law for chemical castration of sex offenders, complete ban on free online pornography and not grant bail to people who commit heinous crimes against women until trial.
A bench headed by Justice Suryakant directed Attorney General of India R Venkataramani to serve the petition filed by the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association on behalf of senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani, whose assistance the court sought.
Ms. Pavani said it has been 12 years since Nirbhaya was brutally gang-raped and murdered, but the woman still does not feel safe.
The senior lawyer referred to the RG Kar case of rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor in Kolkata. He asked the court to frame India’s safety guidelines for women.
Justice Kant said suggestions such as chemical castration were “radical”. The bench said that crimes against women continue not because of lack of laws but because of weak implementation.
The petition asked the court to direct the Law Commission of India to examine the introduction of a law providing for “chemical castration as punishment for all convicts for sexual offenses against women and children and permanent castration for convicts sentenced to life imprisonment and death”. Punishment”.
Another suggestion included giving women access to a national database of sex offenders maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau. The petition proposed speedy trial of cases involving serious crimes against women in six months by fast track courts.
published – December 17, 2024 at 12:44 pm IST