Insta
No More Trial By Media? Petition Wants SC To Protect Identity Of Those Accused In Sexual Assault Cases
The Supreme Court. (File Photo)
A new petition has been filed in the Supreme Court (SC) asking the apex court to frame guidelines to safeguard the reputation of those accused in sexual assault cases, reports The Hindu.
The petition, filed by Youth Bar Association of India states that it is vital to protect the public integrity of an individual falsely accused in a sexual assault case since the law operates on the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
The plea notes that false charges and accusations can do irreparable damage to a person’s social and economic life even if those charges are later proved wrong in a court of law.
“It does not only destroy an individual’s life but also creates a social stigma for the family members too… Some preventive measures must be taken to avoid and deal with such situations in the interest of justice,” it said.
Names Should Not Be Published
The petition has asked the court to issue a directive to prohibit disclosure of the identity of those accused in a sexual harassment case until a court upholds the charges. This restriction is necessary to prevent a trial by media.
"Besides, considering the wide reach of social media, the person’s name and even that of his family, which might include minors, would be exposed on the Internet. This would be a violation of their fundamental right to privacy," the petition said.
The petition added that it would be tragic that the person, even after being found innocent, would continue to be known as a suspected sex offender on social media because once his identity entered the public domain it would become searchable and permanent.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
