Castrate child rapists to curb sex offences, Madras HC to Centre

CASTRATION.

That’s the punishment the Madras high court is suggesting to the Centre for child rapists, saying it will be a good deterrent in wake of increasing crimes against minors.

In a strongly-worded letter to the Centre, Madras high court Justice N Kirubakaran wrote, “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 of the recent happenings of horrible blood-curdling gang rapes of children in various parts of India.

“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.”

Between 2012 and 2014, he said, the number of these crimes had increased from 38,172 to 89,423.

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 judge added that castration is done on child sex offenders in Poland, Russia, Estonia and nine US states including California, Florida, Oregon, Texas and Washington, he said, adding, "South Korea was the first Asian country to make castration a punishment."