'No mediation, compromise in rape cases,' rules Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that no mediations or compromise can take place in rape cases.

“A woman's body is her temple. No mediation and no compromise will take place in rape cases,” the Supreme Court said.

“It is a spectacular error on the part of the court to promote any such mediation,” said the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court observation came days after the Madras high court granted bail to a rape accused to ‘mediate’ with the survivor.

In a controversial ruling, the Madras HC referred a case of the rape convict to its mediation centre to settle the matter taking note of the future of the victim.

The victim, who was a minor when the incident took place, however said that she did not want to mediate with the culprit or marry him.

She also lost her parents following the incident and gave birth to a child as well.

The decision by the Madras HC had invited sharp criticism. A group of lawyers approached the Chief Justice of the Madras HC to urge the court to recall the order.

The Tamil State Women’s Commission had called the judgement a good move, saying that it was up to the victim to take the step to reconciliate with her rapist.