The Supreme Court (SC) has directed that any references to the doctor who was reportedly raped and killed at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, including her name, images, and videos, be removed from social media sites. This ruling came after a three-member bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud pointed out a breach of the court’s prior order in the Nipun Saxena case, which emphasised safeguarding the identity of sexual assault victims.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Chandrachud raised worry over the broad publishing of the victim’s identity on social and electronic media, calling it a clear violation of established legal standards. The bench, which also included Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasised the importance of the media following the court’s instructions, emphasising that free expression has limitations, particularly given the sensitive nature of such cases.
The court’s intervention was prompted by a plea filed by lawyer Kinnori Ghosh and others, who argued against the public disclosure of the victim’s identity on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). The bench emphasized that the continued publication of the victim’s identity exacerbates the trauma for the family and violates her dignity, which must be preserved even in death.
The doctor’s body was discovered on August 9, and a civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested the following day by Kolkata Police for his alleged involvement in the case. The investigation is ongoing, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) now involved, and Roy is expected to undergo a polygraph test.
The horrific tragedy has instilled widespread dread and unrest among students and faculty at RG Kar Medical College. Following a mob incident on August 15, where a large number of students left the school, notably the women’s dorms, raising security worries. The Supreme Court has recently ordered the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to the college to guarantee safety, a step that has been welcomed by the medical community but also serves as a reminder of the greater need for institutional safety measures in healthcare facilities throughout the country.
