Supreme Court sets 6-week deadline for Centre to respond to PIL for chemical castration for rapists

The Supreme Court on Monday granted the Central government six more weeks time to file its response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea seeking nationwide guidelines to protect women, various reforms for women’s protection, and chemical castration as a penalty in sexual offence cases [Supreme Court Women's Association vs UOI]..A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh also suggested that the petitioner could circulate the plea to seek suggestions from women lawyers across High Courts on how to tackle the issues raised."Six weeks time granted to State to file counter affidavit .. Meanwhile, circulate it and ask women lawyers for suggestions. You can ask suggestions from various sections of of society. It should not be restricted to Delhi," the Court said..During the hearing, the Court also recounted that the Karnataka Federation of Women Lawyers had recently sought 33 per cent reservation for women advocates in the Advocates Association of Bengaluru (AAB). The counsel for the petitioner was advised to seek suggestions from such organizations as well.The Court acknowledged the broader issues at play in the case and remarked that there are certain issue where the Court could intervene to address them..The petition was filed by the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA) and seeks comprehensive measures to tackle sexual offences against women, children and transgender persons in India.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.It calls for a complete ban on online pornography and unfiltered obscenity on OTT platforms, arguing that easy access to such material is linked to the rise in sexual crimes nationwide.Moreover, the petition demands mandatory installation of CCTVs in workplaces, fast-track trials for rape and sexual harassment cases, and a prohibition on legislators accused of crimes against women from contesting elections until acquitted..The matter had come up on December 16, 2024, when the Court had first sought the government's response to the PIL. Representing the SCWLA, Senior Advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani told the Court yesterday that some of the respondents were yet to file their response. She acknowledged that there were stringent laws punishing crimes against women, but noted that their implementation had been lacking, which necessitated legal intervention..The matter has been listed on March 24, 2025 next.