“Remove Kolkata Rape Victim’s Name, Photo”, Supreme Court Orders Wikipedia

New Delhi: The Supreme Court ordered Wikipedia to remove the name and photo of the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August. Wikipedia, in its page on the incident, identified the doctor. Indian laws don’t permit the identification of rape victims.

“The identity of the victim should not be revealed in any way. Wikipedia should immediately remove the victim’s photo and any content revealing her identity,” a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.

The Chief Justice said the provisions of the Indian law is very clear that the identity of the victim in rape and murder cases cannot be revealed and Wikipedia must remove such references.

The court had ordered the removal of the name, photos and videos of the trainee doctor from social media earlier as well. The disclosure of the identity of a victim of sexual assault is a violation of the Supreme Court order passed in 2018 in the Nipun Saxena case.

The trainee doctor was found raped and murdered on August 9 morning at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. It sparked strikes and protests by doctors across the country. A civic volunteer named Sanjoy Roy, the college’s then principal Sandip Ghosh, and a cop have been arrested in the case. The CBI is investigating the case.