Delhi HC Fines Media Cos That Revealed Kathua Rape Victim’s Name

The outlets were directed to pay Rs 10 lakh each to the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Fund.

People protesting against the Kathua rape at India Gate in New Delhi. 

(Photo: Mythreyee Ramesh/The Quint)

Media outlets that revealed the identity of the eight-year-old victim in the heinous gang-rape and murder case in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua, were fined Rs 10 lakh each by the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, 18 April.

The media houses issued an apology to the High Court for naming the minor victim in their reports, and were directed to pay Rs 10 lakh each to the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Fund, PTI reported.

Earlier on 13 April, the Delhi High Court had heavily criticised how some media groups violated the law, and sent notices to 12 organisations – The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, The Hindu, NDTV, Republic TV, and Firstpost.

Advocates representing media houses 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.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar directed that the compensation amount be deposited within a week and the money transferred to be used for Jammu and Kashmir's Victim Compensation Fund, PTI reported.

The High Court added that anyone who discloses a rape victim's identity can be imprisoned for six months, and scheduled the case for a next hearing on 25 April, ANI reported.

The bench also directed that wide and continuous publicity be given to the statutory provisions of law regarding privacy of victims of sexual offences and punishment for revealing their identities.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)

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