SC raps media for showing rape victim pics

The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of Bihar's Muzaffarpur sexual abuse case and sought a response from the central and state governments.

The top court also restrained print and electronic media from showing images of the victims, even morphed ones, saying they should not be made to relive the trauma.

Taking up a letter sent by a social worker — Ranvijya Kumar from Patna — a bench of justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said the victims cannot be subjected to media interviews.

"They (victims) cannot be compelled to relive the trauma again and again," the court said, issuing a notice to the Bihar government and the women and child development ministry of the Union government.

The court appointed advocate Aparna Bhat as amicus curiae and directed the investigating agency to take the assistance of professional counsellors and qualified child psychiatrists in recording the statements of the victims.

It posted the matter for further hearing on August 7.