Supreme Court seeks response from Centre, States on plea for chemical castration, no bail rule in rape cases

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of the Central government and various States on a plea calling for various measures to tackle rising crimes against women, children and transgender persons in India..The petition has been filed by the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association. Among other prayers, the petitioner has urged the Court to direct the implementation of chemical castration as a punishment for sexual offences such as rape, and the implementation of a 'no bail' rule in cases involving such horrific crimes against women. A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice in the matter today."We have to see where are we lacking in punitive and penal laws," the Court orally observed. .The plea refers to the alarming surge in heinous crimes such as rape and sexual violence across States, including Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. It also highlights the recent gang-rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, while flagging concern about the failure of law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety, particularly for women and vulnerable groups..The plea says that the existing legal framework and police mechanisms have failed to deter offenders. It, therefore, advocates for the introduction of sweeping reforms to tackle sexual or gender related violence, including:- the establishment of a National Sex Offenders Registry, - mandatory chemical castration for sexual offenders, - gender sensitization programs in schools, a complete ban on unrestricted pornographic content, - a six month deadline to complete the trial in cases involving heinous sexual offences, - implementation of a "no bail rule" for those accused of such heinous offences,- ensuring that proper toilets are available for girls and women in workplaces, educational institutions, public spaces etc. - ensuring ethical conduct by police officers or investigators handling rape or such sensitive cases,- introducing a handbook to sensitise those working with private cab services such as Ola, Uber, etc. on how to behave respectfully with passengers,- introducing moral science and sex education as part of the school curriculum as well as adding martial arts training as an extra-curricular course in schools,- the installation of CCTV systems at workplaces to curb exploitation, etc. .Citing international practices in countries like South Korea and Indonesia, the plea suggests that chemical castration has proven effective in reducing repeat sexual offenses. The petition further seeks stringent penalties, including life imprisonment and permanent castration, for those convicted for rape or horrific sexual crimes.Additionally, the petition calls for the establishment of gender sensitization committees in government offices and public institutions under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act) and robust adolescent education programs to foster gender equity and awareness..The petition has been filed by Advocate Filza Moonis, was settled by Senior Advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani and was drafted by Advocates Sumedha Sen and Shaurya Mishra.