The Supreme Court Ruling Enforces Privacy Protection for the Kolkata Doctor Rape and Murder Victim Amidst Widespread Online Exposure
The Supreme Court of India has ordered the removal of the name, photographs, and videos of a trainee doctor who was tragically raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata from all social media platforms.
On Tuesday, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud led a three-judge bench in directing that any identifying information related to the victim be expunged from social media. This action is in response to widespread dissemination of her name, images, and videos following the incident.
The bench, which also included Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, highlighted that publishing such details infringes upon the Supreme Court’s previous directives, such as those established in the Nipun Saxena case, which stresses the protection of victims’ identities from public exposure.
Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized that the media’s publication of the victim’s identity and distressing images violates established legal protections for victims of sexual assault. He noted the urgent need for adherence to these safeguards to avoid further exploitation of the victim’s privacy.
The court’s intervention came after a plea by lawyer Kinnori Ghosh and others, who raised concerns about the widespread sharing of the victim’s personal details and associated hashtags on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court expressed deep concern over the situation, reaffirming that while freedom of speech is fundamental, it must be balanced against the privacy rights of victims, as reiterated in its 2018 ruling in the Nipun Saxena case.
Also read: Padma Awardee Doctors Urge PM for Law to Protect Healthcare Workers Amid Kolkata rape-murder case
What was the case: A 31-year-old postgraduate doctor was reportedly raped and murdered in a seminar hall at the hospital on August 9, causing widespread national outrage. Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, has been arrested in connection with the crime. The tragic incident has sparked nationwide protests by doctors calling for justice for the victim and for legislation to ensure the safety of resident doctors in educational institutions and hospitals.
The victim’s body was discovered on August 9, and a civic volunteer named Sanjoy Roy was arrested by the Kolkata Police the following day in connection with the crime. Roy is currently being interrogated by the CBI and may undergo a polygraph examination.
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