Don’t victimize a victim! Supreme Court- ‘Rape victim’s identity shouldn’t be revealed’

NP NEWS 24 ONLINE- Supreme court has given an important verdict on Monday that a victim’s identity should not be revealed at any cost right from the very  of hearings in court till the end of the case.

A bench of three judges, Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice S. Abdullah Nazir and Justice Deepak Gupta took this decision that, Central Forensic Science Laboratory(CFSL) reports and other documents related to such cases should not be revealed without victim’s consent, and if it is to be revealed, it must be in a sealed envelope and must be presented to the lower court.

On behalf of the bench, Justice Gupta said, “To increase the TRP of media and to make it a breaking, sensational news, revealing the name of the victim should be avoided”. This decision has been taken by the bench. And, also ordered that identity of minor rape victim should not be revealed even by her parents and family members.

This verdict was announced by the court after a petition was filed by lawyer, Nipun Saxena for the welfare of public who knocked the doorsteps of court raising a voice for safety of women at public places. All he demanded was justice to women.

This petition was filed by him on 16 December 2012 after the Delhi gang rape case which had shattered the whole nation leading to protests and violence in the country demanding justice for the victim.

It was said in this decision that, “It is not only media’s right but duty to report the cases of sexual harassment but they must avoid revealing the victim’s identity.”

If we look into the matter in depth we can understand that there have been several such cases where the news media had to pay for revealing the victim’s identity. So, be careful!