Children’s Protection Bill

THE rejection in last March of the Age of Consent Bill by the Legislative Assembly, as the result of the combined opposition of the official and orthodox Hindu members, did no credit to the reputation of the legislature as an enlightened body; nor did the view of the Assembly represent the better mind of the Indian educated community. Social legislation, the scope and nature of which must, in the very nature of things, be circumscribed by various cramping influences, is bound to be cautious and slow; but caution does not mean timidity, nor can the desire to move slowly be properly allowed to develop into a state of inertia. While it is the duty of the social reformer to move slowly and cautiously and carry the enlightened section of public opinion with him, he must also guard against trying to secure universal approval for a proposed piece of legislation before proceeding with it, because reform ipso facto ceases to be reform when everyone is prepared to readily carry it out. And if the social reformer were to wait until the reform that he desires becomes acceptable to all, he will have to wait until doomsday or until the reform is no longer required. Sir Hari Singh Gour has done well in not allowing himself to be dismayed at the defeat encountered by him during the winter session of the Assembly; and we are pleased to learn that he is again going to bring forward the Bill before the Simla session of the Assembly under the much better title of the Children’s Protection Bill. The Bill, like its predecessor, is designed to make better provision for the protection of children from unlawful intercourse during infancy, and is a distinct improvement on the Age of Consent Bill which was thrown out by the Assembly.