Kerala to Have Sex Offenders’ Registry, Info to Be Made Public

The list of sexual offenders will arguably be the first of its kind in the country.

image used for representational purposes. (Photo: Reuters)

Kerala is seething over the sexual assault on a popular actor and with women’s safety becoming a prime concern, Governor P Sathasivam announced that the state will introduce a registry for sex offenders.

In his address marking the beginning of the Budget session of the Assembly, the Governor announced that the list of sexual offenders is arguably the first of its kind in the country.

The Governor said the increasing immunity of sex offenders due to lack of social deterrence was a growing concern all over the country.

To ensure deterrence, my government will set up a sex offenders’ registry which will maintain all identification details of sex offenders. It will be the first in the country and will be kept in the public domain.

P Sathasivam, Kerala Governor

The step that Kerala has announced now is something that has been repeatedly demanded by Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi. In January 2017, the Minister had reiterated the need for a national registry of sex offenders.

The Governor asserted that his government will ensure that women in the state are given utmost protection. He added:

All necessary measures will be taken to uphold safety and security to their lives. Let me assure this House that my government will not pardon any action by anyone that is seen as an affront to women.

“My government has already created history by deciding to create a separate department for women, which is in the final stage of operationalisation,” he stated.

“Taking such exemplary policies to the next level, my government will set up all-women police stations at the taluk levels,” he added.

He also said that the government will set up a relief fund to provide interim relief for survivors of sexual crimes, both children and women.

Sathasivam, in his address, also said that a special department for women's safety will be formed.