Supreme Court Banned It, NMC Removed It—So Why Do Forensic Textbooks Still Teach the Virginity & Finger Test?
Lede: Despite clear legal and regulatory moves to end the practice, many forensic-medicine textbooks taught in MBBS and MD courses in India continue to include descriptions of the discredited “virginity” or “finger” test — sometimes reworded, sometimes presented with caveats, but often preserving the same myths. Forensic educators, human-rights advocates and legal experts warn that this partial compliance undermines survivor dignity, perpetuates pseudoscience, and risks misguided medico-legal practice unless the National Medical Commission (NMC) and publishers act decisively.
What’s new (24-hour snapshot)
A Times of India investigation published today found that several widely used forensic-medicine textbooks still contain chapters or passages describing so-called “signs of virginity” — such as hymen condition, vaginal laxity, and “ease of finger insertion” — even after the NMC revised the forensic syllabus in 2022 to label these tests unscientific and discriminatory. Experts quoted said many books have made only cosmetic edits, branding the test “unscientific” while retaining traditional descriptions and interpretations.
Legal and regulatory timeline
- October 31, 2022 — Supreme Court of India: The Court strongly condemned the two-finger test, calling it medically baseless and re-victimizing survivors, and ruled that it must not be conducted.
- 2022 — NMC curriculum changes: The NMC revised undergraduate forensic teaching to explicitly state that “signs of virginity” and finger tests are unscientific, inhuman, and discriminatory, and instructed doctors to explain this lack of scientific basis to courts.
These reforms were intended to remove the practice from clinical and legal workflows. Yet, in many cases, textbook content has failed to keep pace.
Why the “finger test” is unscientific and harmful
- No reliable anatomical marker for “virginity”: Hymen appearance or vaginal tone cannot establish sexual history.
- Violation of dignity: The invasive nature of the test can retraumatize survivors.
- Risk of misleading courts: Pseudoscientific testimony undermines justice and forensic credibility.
How textbooks are currently presenting the subject
- Unchanged sections: Older descriptions reproduced verbatim.
- Superficial edits: Disclaimers added without removing misleading explanations.
- Mixed messaging: Historical discussion without clear legal and ethical condemnation.
Voices from the field
- Forensic educators: Dr. Indrajit Khandekar of MGIMS Sewagram has urged complete textbook revision rather than marginal annotations.
- Legal observers: Analysts stress that court rulings require real-world compliance in education and practice.
- Human-rights groups: NGOs call for enforcement mechanisms and accountability for continued use.
Why textbook revision matters
- Training shapes future clinical and forensic practice.
- Textbooks influence courtroom testimony and medico-legal reports.
- Survivor trust depends on ethical, evidence-based care.
Recommendations
- Immediate audit and revision of forensic textbooks.
- Clear compliance circular from the NMC.
- Faculty retraining and exam reform.
- Monitoring, reporting, and redress mechanisms.
What this means for Budding Forensic Experts
- Know the law and the science: the test is banned and unscientific.
- Question outdated or non-compliant textbooks.
- Document and report improper teaching or practice.
Sources & further reading
- Times of India — “Virginity & finger tests persist in med textbooks despite NMC ban.”
- National Medical Commission curriculum notifications (2022).
- Supreme Court of India judgment (Oct 31, 2022).
- NDTV and LiveLaw analysis and commentary.
