The Delhi High Court has issued notices to several media houses including NDTV, CNN-NEWS18, Times of India, Hindustan Times, among others, for disclosing the identity of the Kathua gang-rape victim. The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar took suo moto cognizance of the matter and has sought a response from the media houses on why action should not be taken against them.
Am emotional Justice Mittal also lamented the fact that none of the organizations and authorities, who claim to work for the welfare of women and children, made any complaint about the illegality being committed during the coverage of the heinous crime.
The victim, an 8-year old girl from the Bakerwal Muslim community, was reported missing on the 10th of January near the Rasana village. Her body was discovered a week later in the woods. The investigation has been mired in controversies and communal polarization with the Jammu Bar Association demanding a CBI investigation into the issue and certain sections of the political spectrum choosing to score political points over the issue.
