TIA Correspondent /
Adopting a tough stand on the settlement in rape cases, the Supreme Court today said that any attempt of mediation between a rapist and a victim is against the dignity of women.The court’s observation came days after the Madras High Court granted bail to a rape accused to mediate with the survivor.
The apex court said that courts cannot take a soft approach on mediation as any such attempt is illegal. The court termed it a spectacular error on the part of the court to promote any such mediation. The top court said that there should be no mediation and no compromise in rape cases as a woman’s body is her temple.
The Madras High Court’s order was issued in response to an appeal and a bail plea from the convict, who was sentenced to seven years and slapped with a fine of 2 lakh rupees by a Women Court in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, in 2002. Holding that alternative dispute resolution such as mediation is now being used in criminal cases as well, Justice P Devadass of the court had said that the result of it is very good as there is no victor and no vanquished.
The victim, however, had said that she did not want to mediate with the culprit. The Supreme Court was today hearing an appeal filed by the Madhya Pradesh government in another rape case.