Recommending castration for paedophiles is apt, say social activists

The number of child abuse cases has increased from 58,224 in 2013 to 89,423 in 2014

Welcoming the Madras High Court's suggestion of considering castration as punishment for child rapists, two social activists on Monday said that the suggestion made to the Centre was apt as the existing Indian law is unable to protect the child from abuses.

"Child abuse cases in India are increasing. The Madras High Court in one such case has come up strongly and said that the Indian law is unable to prevent child abuses. The conviction rate in child abuse cases is barely 2.4 per cent whereas the offences against children have increased by 400 per cent," social activist Abha Singh told ANI.

"When rapists are going scot-free and paedophiles are going scot-free, a Madras High Court judge has rightly suggested that there should be castration. Many other countries like UK, USA, Polland and many other countries subscribe to castration and it has been seen that it has been successful in checking the paedophiles," she added.

Another social activist and lawyer Pramila Nesargi echoing similar sentiments expressed her delight with the Madras High Court judge's suggestion.

"I always advocated that castration can be the only remedy because the existing law is not creating any fear in the minds of the people. People may call it barbaric but judge has openly said that barbaric punishment should be given for barbaric crimes," Nesargi told ANI.

In a strongly-worded order, the Madras High Court had earlier this month recommended castration as punishment to child sex abusers observing that "barbaric crimes should definitely attract barbaric models of punishment".

Justice N Kirubakaran, in a recent order against a British national, made the recommendation to the Centre saying that castration would achieve "magical results" in preventing child abuse.

The number of child abuse cases has increased from 38,172 in 2012 to 58,224 in 2013 and to 89,423 in 2014.