Gender fight gets boost: FGM is a crime, SC told

The Centre on Friday has asked the Supreme Court to ban the ‘Khatna’ or the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), practice prevalent among the Dawoodi Bohra religious community of Shia sect, as it is a crime and punishable offence. This practice is an age-old tradition in this community to mark the arrival of womanhood.

Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, made this submission before a three Judge Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud during the course of hearing of a petition filed by advocate Sunita Tihar seeking a ban on FGM as it is illegal. The AG while supporting the plea of the petitioner asked the top Court to ‘step in and issue directions’ on the practice of FGM.

The Centre, he said has filed a counter affidavit stating that FGM is a crime with a punishment of seven years of imprisonment adding that existing laws don’t permit FGM and that the court can further clarify on the matter and issue guidelines.

The petition filed by the advocate described the practice as “inhuman” and “violative” of girls’ rights. It sought a direction to declare it illegal and unconstitutional, non-compoundable and a non-bailable offence. It asked the court to frame guidelines to curb the practice and to issue directions to the state police chiefs to take action against those who indulge in such practice.