HC directive on publication of rape victims' details

Chennai, June 15 (UNI) Madras High Court today banned the publication of photographs and details of rape victims in newspapers, journals and magazines and directed the Tamil Nadu Government to ensure implemenation of a related circular.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justices Dharmarao Elipe and S Palanivelu allowed the petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Council of the National Federation of Indian Women represented by its General Secretary K Santhakumari seeking a direction to authorities to ban such publication.

The Bench directed the state government to ensure implementation of a 2002 circular issued by the DGP, which among other things, prohibited photographing rape victims.

According to the circular, the media indulged in perverse sensationalism while displaying the photographs of women.

The police mandated to safeguard the dignity of women being party to it, cannot be condoned on any account. It was easy for the police to stop such photographs being taken.

Still they (police) lacked sensitivity and humanity to abide by basic civilised norms. The Commissioners of Police in cities and Superintendents of Police in districts were hereby directed to strictly prevent rape victims from being photographed.

According to the petitioner, many newspapers in the state published photographs and details of the victims who came forward to lodge complaints against the offenders before the police.

The press managed to get such photographs and details from the police officials. Once they were published, it is difficult for woman to getmarried and her family is subject to social redicule.

The damage done by these publications only for sake of sensation and profits often terminated the social life of the woman concerned and her family.

UNI