NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court issued important directives to protect privacy and reputation of victims of rape crimes including those who have died, cannot be disclosed “even in a remote manner.
A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said this while refusing to agree with an argument that in certain matters, the victim’s name should be allowed to be disclosed as her name and face could become a “rallying point” to prevent other such sexual offences.
Court made it clear that they do not want to in any manner curtail the right of the defence to cross-examine the prosecutrix, but the same should be done with a certain level of decency and respect at large.
If it is necessary to part with documents, the names of victims should be removed, the court said. Justice Deepak Gupta authored the Judgment for the bench, disposing of the Public Interest Litigation filed by Nipun Saxena.
