CHENNAI: The Madras high court has observed the trend of single parents raising children could have wide-ranging adverse effects on the society. Noting that a child needs the affection of both mother and father, the court on Friday said single parenting is a “dangerous concept for society”.

Justice N Kirubakaran made the observation while hearing a contempt plea moved against the secretary of the Union ministry of women and child development for allegedly failing to comply with the direction issued by the court to check child abuse. In its order dated October 16, 2015, the court suggested the ministry to consider “castration” of child abusers, particularly child rapists, as an additional punishment apart from other punishments under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, IPC and the Juvenile Justice Act.

Among other directions, the Centre was also directed to instruct state governments to conduct awareness programmes about crimes against children. The petitioner moved the contempt plea because the Centre failed to implement the court’s directions. Justice Kirubakaran noted that the concept of joint family had initially shrunk to a nuclear, and then to single parenting.

The court also observed it is high time to “bifurcate” the Union ministry of women and child development and establish a dedicated ministry for child development. Before concluding the hearing, the judge asked the assistant solicitor-general, representing the Centre, to get instructions from the ministry as to whether they had issued any guidelines to spend the Nirbhaya fund being allotted to the state governments. He posted the hearing to August 17.

