The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Chennai has sent out a strong warning to the television channels and the media by slapping a fine of Rs. 25,000 on Zee Tv for revealing the identity of a sexual assault victim.
The board has fined the compere, director and producer of a show that interviewed the abuse victim in her school uniform. “In the show they covered her face, but showed her in the uniform. This is against section 21 of the Juvenile Justice Act,” said a source.
The section prohibits of publication of name and other details of the juvenile. No report in any newspaper, magazine, news-sheet or visual media shall disclose the name, address or school or any other particulars that could lead to the identification of the juvenile. Any person who flouts these norms shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to Rs.25,000.
Social workers raised objections soon after the interview was telecast recently. “This should be a warning to all the media houses. Similar complaints have been filed earlier, but this is the first time we are seeing some action,” said a child rights activist.
