Women activists today hailed a government panel’s recommendation to abolish a “barbaric” method of verifying rape allegations.

“Rape victims in India already face social stigma. If the two-finger test is abolished, it will save them from further psychological trauma,” said Ranjana Kumari, a prominent women’s activist in New Delhi.

In the test, rape is confirmed by judging the ease with which two fingers can be inserted into the alleged victim’s vagina. The test is performed by government doctors after a case is referred to them by the police.

The panel yesterday called the test “archaic and outdated” as well as “unscientific and degrading.”

Kumari, who is also the director of the Centre for Social Research, an NGO working in the field of women’s empowerment, said India should adopt global norms to investigate rape claims.

“This is not the way it is done in other countries. It is high time India adopts modern procedures,” she added

Ratna Kapur, head of the Centre for Feminist Legal Research, termed the test “outrageous” and a violation of human rights.

“There are scratches, bruises on a girl’s body and other signs that will verify a claim. This test has nothing to do with rape,” she said.

To save victims of sexual violence from further trauma, the panel also suggested that child victims should not be made to give repeated statements to police and judicial authorities and experts such as child psychologists or doctors should be allowed to appear in court on their behalf.