Supreme Court to address disclosure of RG Kar victim's name after Diwali break

The Supreme Court of India is set to revisit the controversial disclosure of the RG Kar victim's name by the police commissioner after the Diwali break. This important hearing, held on October 15, comes in the wake of serious concerns regarding the protection of victims' identities in cases of brutal violence, particularly in light of the horrific rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, leading the bench with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized the need for confidentiality in sensitive cases involving gender-based violence. During the hearing, legal representatives for the victim's family, including Senior Advocate Vrinda Grover, voiced strong objections to the police's decision to disclose the victim's name. Grover articulated that such revelations could lead to further trauma for the family, potentially exposing them to social stigma and emotional distress. The Court acknowledged these concerns and underscored the necessity of balancing the public's right to information with the victim's right to privacy.

In conjunction with the victim's identity issue, the Court is also scrutinizing the recruitment practices for civic volunteers in the West Bengal Police. This review arises from apprehensions about the potential misuse of power and political patronage associated with unverified civic volunteers. Chief Justice Chandrachud noted that allowing unverified civic volunteers to operate could lead to significant issues of accountability within the police force, especially in sensitive settings such as hospitals and educational institutions.

The Court has directed the West Bengal government to provide comprehensive details regarding the recruitment process of civic volunteers, including the legal authority for their appointment, required qualifications, verification processes, and the specific duties they are assigned. Additionally, the government must disclose information on compensation structures for these volunteers and the total number currently engaged in police operations.

As discussions concluded, the Chief Justice indicated that both the disclosure of the victim's identity and the civic volunteer recruitment issues will be addressed again after the Diwali break.