The Supreme Court strongly deprecated the disclosure of the identity of a minor rape survivor, calling it a violation of law and judicial ethics.
The apex court criticized the Himachal Pradesh High Court for mentioning the name of a nine-year-old victim in its order, stressing that such disclosure is prohibited under Section 228A of the IPC.
The bench directed Registrars General of all High Courts to ensure strict compliance with its earlier Nipun Saxena judgment, which bars revealing the identity of sexual assault survivors.
The court emphasized that disclosure of names exposes survivors to stigma, trauma, and social ostracism, undermining their dignity and privacy.
Setting aside the High Court’s order, the Supreme Court reiterated that protecting the identity of victims is a legal and moral mandate for all judicial and investigative authorities.
