Context

Union Home Ministry has launched ‘first-of-its-kind national sex offenders’ registry.

About

• The registry called National Database for Sexual Offenders has names and details of 4.4 lakh people convicted for various sexual offences across the country since 2005.
  a. It stores name, address, photograph and fingerprinting.
  b. Offenders include people convicted under charges of rape, gang rape, POCSO Act and eve teasing.
• The National Crime Records Bureau will store the data.
• It can be accessed only by law enforcement agencies and will be out of the bounds for the general public.
• The database would not compromise any individual’s privacy.
• Data will be stored for 15 years of those convicts posing low danger, 25 years for those posing moderate danger, and lifetime for habitual offenders involved in violent crimes like gang-rapes.
• India became the ninth country in the world to have a National Data Base on Sexual Offenders after U.S, UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and Trinidad & Tobago. (Only in the U.S, it is available to the public)

Significance

• Opening of the registry is timely as crimes as well as reporting of those crimes against women are on the rise.
• The registry is expected to strengthen women and children safety.
• It will assist police forces in investigating cases of sexual offences and in effectively tracking an offender’s future behaviour.
• On the down side:
  a. Despite assurance, chances of overreach and misuse exist.
  b. It negates the concept of rehabilitation and perpetuates social stigma.