In a statement that will in all probabilities end up in a controversy, Madras high court as announced a one-word solution to curb the growing sex offences against children: Castration. “Traditional laws are not stringent enough to yield any desired positive result. Suggestion of castration looks barbaric, but barbaric crimes should definitely attract barbaric model of punishment. Many may not agree with this. Still, everyone needs to understand the stark reality in society and appreciate the punishment suggested,” Justice N Kirubakaran said, pointing to the fact that the conviction rate in cases of sex offence against children is a mere 2.4 per cent and that between 2008 and 2014, crimes against children had increased by 400 per cent.
Noting that chemical castration had come into force in several countries, including the US, he said, “The court is sure that additional punishment of castration of child rapists would fetch magical results in preventing and containing child abuses.” Passing the orders on a plea from a foreigner facing paedophile charges in Tamil Nadu for quashing the case, Kirubakaran turned the plea down, however, putting a stay on the red corner notice issued against him.
The recent brutal gangrape of children in Delhi provoked the court to make the drastic suggestion. Calling it “blood-curling” and “horrific”, Justice Kirubakaran said castration must be an additional punishment for child abusers, especially rapists. “South Korea was the first Asian country to make castration a punishment. Inspite of many penal laws and the recent POCSO Act, 2012 prescribing severe punishment for crimes against children, the number of such cases has increased from 38,172 in 2012 to 58,224 in 2013 and to 89,423 in 2014. When law is ineffective and incapable of addressing the menace, this court cannot keep its hands folded and remain a silent spectator, unmoved and oblivious to the recent happenings of horrible blood-curdling gang rapes of children in various parts of India. It would not only be injustice done to the child abuse victims, but would also amount to violation of the oath taken by this court,” the judge said.
The judge said human rights activists who oppose castration are concerned mostly about offenders and perpetrators, unmindful of the physical, psychological and the emotional trauma undergone by victims. “Those activists should first exhibit sympathy and support to the victims of such crimes by visiting and consoling them at the hour of crisis instead of having misplaced sympathy on the perpetrators.”
