The Supreme Court directed Wikipedia to remove all references, including the name, photographs, and video clips of the deceased victim in the tragic rape and murder case from West Bengal’s RG Kar Medical College & Hospital.
This decision comes as part of the court’s suo moto proceedings concerning the high-profile incident involving a junior doctor at the Kolkata hospital.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, that the victim’s name and images were still accessible on Wikipedia despite previous notices.
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta stated, “In Wikipedia, the name and photo of the (victim) girl is still there. Till yesterday, it was there and we have checked again, it is still there.”
The bench, which includes Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, instructed all social media platforms to remove any content that reveals the victim’s identity.
The court emphasized that Wikipedia’s non-compliance constitutes a violation of its orders, not censorship.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, highlighted Wikipedia’s reluctance to comply. Meanwhile, Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy reported that Wikipedia had refused to remove the content, citing their stance against censorship.
“The request for removal is not a matter of censorship but a legal requirement to avoid committing an offense,” SG Mehta explained.
The Supreme Court affirmed that it would issue a formal injunction to ensure that the victim’s name and images are removed.
Previously, on 20 August, the Supreme Court had mandated the removal of the deceased victim’s identity from all social media and electronic media.
The court had observed that revealing the victim’s name and associated images violated its earlier directives aimed at protecting the identities of rape victims.
The Court had previously criticized the West Bengal government for permitting the dissemination of such sensitive information.
During its initial suo moto hearing, the Court raised concerns, stating that while it recognizes the right to free speech, it must adhere to established parameters.
In response, the West Bengal Police reported that, despite filing 50 FIRs, photos of the crime scene circulated before they could intervene.
The Supreme Court’s latest order underscores the ongoing need for strict adherence to privacy protections in cases involving sensitive information, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in safeguarding the dignity of victims.
Also Read: Supreme Court Urges Comprehensive CBI Investigation Into Kolkata’s Rape-Murder Case
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