Castration for rapists: judge

A Delhi court has recommended to the central government to explore the possibility of castrating rape and molestation convicts.

A Delhi court has recommended to the central government to explore the possibility of castrating rape and molestation convicts.

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Sentencing a man to 10-year imprisonment for raping his stepdaughter for four years, additional sessions judge Kamini Lau called for a “public debate” on the possibility of surgical and chemical castration as punishment for rape.

Chemical castration is the administration of medication to reduce libido and sexual activity while in surgical castration, the testes are removed.

Lau said countries like the US, UK and Germany have imposed chemical and surgical castration as an alternate to contain the growing menace of rape and molestation. Indian legislatures should with seriously explore this possibility too, particularly in cases involving the rape of minors, serial offenders and child molesters, the court said.

However, Lau’s suggestion did not find unanimity in legal circles. “It would lead to Talibanisation of the Indian criminal justice system,” said advocate Mukul Rohatgi.

Law Commission vice-chairman KTS Tulsi said: “It takes us back to the stone age. I wholly disagree with it.”