Castrate child rapists, suggests high court order

The union government has been asked by the Madras High Court to consider castration as punishment for child rapists.

A strongly-worded order released on Sunday said, "The court cannot be a silent spectator, unmoved and oblivious of the horrible blood curdling gang-rapes of children in various parts of India."

Justice N Kirubakaran, who pronounced the judgement on 16 October, said crimes against children are rising despite the stringent law, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Between 2012 and 2014, he said, the number of these crimes had increased from 38,172 to 89,423.

"The law is ineffective and incapable of addressing the menace," he said, adding, that "the court is sure the castration of child rapists will fetch magical results."

The judge noted that countries like Russia, Poland and nine American states including California and Florida have already enforced castration for sex offences against children.

"Though the suggestion of castration looks barbaric, barbaric crimes should definitely attract barbaric models of punishment and the very thought of the punishment should deter the culprit from committing the offence," Justice Kirubakaran said.

The court made these remarks while dismissing a petition by a British national accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy from Tamil Nadu in 2011 after promising his family that he would take care of his education.

After the accused left for London, the boy, who is now above 18, filed a complaint. The boy and his family receive financial support from an NGO run by the British national, and they have now denied making sex abuse allegations against him.

Urging the court to dismiss the case against him, the Briton had also argued that he could not return to India because of an Interpol red corner notice against him.

The notice is issued for the sharing of information between countries on a wanted criminal. The high court has put the notice on hold so that he can come to India and face trial.