Only female doctors to examine sexual assault victims : Karnataka HC to Centre

Karnataka HC directs Union Government to amend ‘Indian Civil Protection Code’

Justice M G Uma of single-judge-bench, the Karnataka High Court directs Centre and state to ensure female doctors for rape victim examinations.

Bengaluru – The Karnataka High Court has directed the Centre to amend the ‘Indian Civil Protection Code’ to ensure that only female doctors conduct medical examinations of adult sexual assault victims, thereby safeguarding their right to privacy. This recommendation was made by Justice M.G. Uma, a one-member bench, while rejecting the bail application of Ajay Kumar Behera from Bihar, who is accused of sexual assault.

At the time, the Court observed, ‘Section 184 of the Indian Civil Protection Code deals with medical examination of adult women who are victims of sexual assault. It has been mentioned that ‘Victims will be examined by male or female medical officers’. Therefore, until this section is properly amended, the Union and State Governments should ensure that the medical examination of women victims of torture will be conducted by registered female medical officers only.’

A victim of sexual assault should be examined under the supervision of female medical officer only. Why should women victims of male abuse suffer physical examination by male medical officers, asked the High Court.

The bench has directed that the Union and State Governments should immediately investigate this matter and amend Section 184 of the Indian Civil Protection Code.

Editorial Perspective

Why does the Court need to intervene? The Government should proactively implement these changes without judicial prompting.