SC on Women's Safety: 'Chemical Castration May Be Extreme, But It’s a Necessary Evil

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu):The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to various union government ministries and departments in response to a plea filed by the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association, seeking guidelines to ensure a safer environment for women, children, and transgender individuals. The bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, scheduled a hearing for January.

The petition was filed on the 12th anniversary of the Nirbhaya tragedy, a case that shocked the nation, and comes on the heels of several recent incidents of sexual violence, including the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital in August. Senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pawani, representing the petitioner, highlighted the alarming rise in reported sexual violence cases, noting that many more incidents go unreported.

The petition also proposed controversial measures, including chemical castration for those convicted of sexual assault, a penalty that is applied in certain other countries. However, the Supreme Court dismissed this demand, calling it "barbaric" and "harsh." The bench acknowledged the need to address other critical issues, such as improving the safety of women and children using public transportation, including airlines, where incidents of misconduct have also been reported.

The court emphasized the importance of not only teaching proper social behavior but also enforcing it strictly in public spaces. Despite stringent laws and punishments for sexual crimes, the court noted that the real challenge lies in the effective implementation of these laws.

Justice Kant expressed appreciation for the petitioner's efforts to seek relief for women facing daily struggles and pointed out the need for a deeper examination of where the system is failing in the implementation of laws.

This move follows a powerful statement from President Droupadi Murmu, who condemned the "obnoxious collective amnesia" surrounding sexual violence, referring to both the Nirbhaya case and the recent Kolkata crime. "Enough is enough," she declared, calling for an end to the daily harassment and brutality faced by women and children in the country.