Kathua rape victim's identity: HC issues notice to Google, Facebook, Twitter and others

The Delhi High Court had in April ordered media houses who had revealed the identity of victim in the Kathua gangrape and murder case to pay Rs 10 lakh each to the court.

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice to IT giants Google, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites over the matter of revealing the identity of victim in the Kathua gangrape and murder case. The next date of hearing has been scheduled for May 29.

In a reply to court's earlier notice, these firms had said that they are not the concerned entity to reply to court's notice on disclosing the identity.

The Delhi High Court had in April ordered media houses who had revealed the identity of victim in the Kathua gangrape and murder case to pay Rs 10 lakh each to the court. The high court had also asked media houses to whom notices were issued to pay Rs 10 lakh each to the court.

The court said that it will transfer the amount to the Jammu and Kashmir victims compensation fund. The Delhi high court added that whoever discloses a rape victim's identity can be imprisoned for 6 months.

Advocates representing media houses had then told the court that the mistake of revealing the identity of the victim was due to their ignorance of the law and a misconception that they could name her as she was dead.