SC asks media bodies if cases involving naming rape victims reported to police

The Supreme Court on Monday asked media regulatory bodies -- Press Council of India, News Broadcasting Standards Authority, Editors Guild of India and Indian Broadcasting Foundation -- if they have reported to police about media persons or organizations who have divulged the identity of rape victim in violation of statutory prohibition.

"You have to function under law, and the law says such persons (who disclose the name of a rape victim) will be prosecuted," said the bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta.

The court today asked the regulatory bodies to file an affidavit stating whether they have informed the police about such cases and, if not, then why they did not inform police about such offenders.

"If publications commit criminal offences, they should be prosecuted. Somebody has to prosecute them. You have not prosecuted even a single person," the court said, comparing the approach to a "velvet fist in velvet glove. "

Asking the counsel appearing for the media regulatory bodies why they did not take steps to inform the police, the court asked them if they thought that disclosing the identity of a rape victim was a penal offence.

Admitting that disclosing the name of a rape victim was a violation of law, the media regulatory bodies said they have to function under the norms.

Brushing aside the claim by a counsel that they have a robust system to deal with such cases, the court mockingly said you claim that the "complainant is satisfied after ten years, and you say you have a robust system."

The matter is rooted in the hearing of a plea against Patna High court order prohibiting media from reporting Muzaffarpur shelter home rape cases.

--IANS

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