Madras HC recalls order directing mediation between victim, rapist

The Madras High Court has recalled a order directing mediation between a rapist and his victim days after the Supreme Court and legal experts criticised it.

TV channels reported the high court cancelled the rapist’s bail, which was granted so that he could meet his victim for a possible settlement, and ordered him to surrender on July 13.

High court judge Justice P Devadass last month had said a man who raped a teenager in 2002 could leave jail for a ‘mediation session’ with his victim. NDTV reports Devadass said that in another case, where he had made a similar intervention, “a happy conclusion” was reached with the rapist “agreeing” to marry his victim.

The Supreme Court, while hearing a separate rape case from Madhya Pradesh, observed that such orders of reconciliation promising marriage between a rape accused and the woman compromised her dignity and were illegal.

The Supreme Court said a compromise was not in the interest of justice as a convict could pressurise the victim and it was painful to see how some judges, even of high courts, were being lenient in handling such cases