Cops rapped for breaching confidentiality

HC pulls up Delhi police for revealing identities of minor victims of sexual violence

A court here has rebuked the Delhi Police for violating the law on confidentiality by revealing the identities of minors subjected to sexual violence and their parents in a series of cases.

Noting that the names and addresses of the victims and their parents had been mentioned in the charge sheets, Additional Sessions Judge Gurdeep Singh said, “This is gross violation of the provision. Therefore, it is directed that the name and address of the child victim on the charge sheet be covered with fluid.”

Matter of confidentiality

“Similarly, the address of her/his parents should be covered. The name and address of the child victim shall remain in police file, which shall be confidential,” the judge added.

The judge also directed senior Delhi Police officers to ensure protection of the victims’ identities.

The court was dealing with 14 cases of sexual offences registered from April 1 to April 7, ranging from rape, molestation, unnatural sex and stalking, in which the police had filed the charge sheets along with names, addresses and other details of the minors. The cases had been lodged in east, north-east and Shahdara districts.

POCSO violated

The court also took note of the fact that the police had violated provisions of the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The latter mandates that the identity of a child victim shall not be disclosed during the course of investigation or trial.

The court said this was a blatant violation of the provisions of confidentiality and directed the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to ensure that in future no charge sheet shall be filed disclosing name of the child victim.