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Supreme Court of India

LALIT YADAVversusTHE STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

Citation
2018 INSC 585
Decided
5 July 2018
Disposal
Dismissed

Holding

Courts must not disclose the identity of rape victims; naming the victim in the judgments contravenes Section 228‑A IPC and appropriate corrective directions must be issued.

Summary

The petitioner was convicted by the trial court and affirmed by the High Court for offences under Sections 376 and 342 of the IPC. In both judgments, the victim (PW‑2) was named throughout, which the Supreme Court held to be inconsistent with Section 228‑A of the IPC that protects the identity of rape victims. The Court noted that the explanation to Section 228‑A does not permit such disclosure except in judgments of a superior court, and directed that every effort be made to avoid revealing the victim's identity. While upholding the conviction and sentence, the Court dismissed the petition but ordered the High Court registry to amend the record and issue practice directions to ensure compliance with Section 228‑A in future cases. The decision reinforces the mandatory confidentiality of rape victims' identities.

Issues considered

  • Whether naming the victim of rape throughout the trial and appellate judgments violates Section 228‑A of the Indian Penal Code
  • Whether the exception in the explanation to Section 228‑A applies to the present judgments
  • What remedial directions are appropriate to rectify the breach and prevent future violations

Legislation cited

Subjects

rapevictim identitySection 228-Aconfidentialitycriminal appealconvictionsentencingpractice directions

Judgment

                         [2018] 10 S.C.R. 771                              771


                           LALIT YADAV                                     A
                                   v.
                 THE STATE OF CHHATTISGARH
                 (S.L.P (Criminal) No. 5631 of 2018)
                            JULY 05, 2018                                  B
               [ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE AND
                  UDAY UMESH LALIT, JJ.]
       Penal Code, 1860 – s.228-A – Disclosure of identity of the
victim of rape – In the instant case, the victim of rape (PW-2) was
                                                                           C
named throughout in the record – Such course is inconsistent with
s.228-A though Explanation makes an exception in favour of
judgments of superior court – Every attempt should be made by all
the courts not to disclose the identity of the victim in terms of
s.228-A – The Registry of the High Court is directed to place the
record of the appeal in the High Court for causing appropriate             D
changes in the record including passing appropriate practice
directions so that the trial courts in the State comply with the mandate
and spirit of s.228-A – Practice and Procedure.
       State of Punjab v. Ramdev Singh (2004) 1 SCC 421 –
       relied on.                                                          E
                        Case Law Reference
(2004) 1 SCC 421                 relied on                Para 2
       CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : S.L.P. (Criminal)
No. 5631 of 2018.
       From the Judgment and Order dated 26.04.2014 of the High Court      F
of Judicature at Bilaspur (CG) in Criminal Appeal No. 45 of 2003.
       Akshat Shrivastava, Sarabjit Dutta, Ms. Pooja Shrivastava, Advs.
for the Petitioner.
       The following Order of the Court was passed:
                                                                           G
                             ORDER
      Delay condoned.
      1. The petitioner was convicted under Sections 376 IPC and
Section 342 IPC and sentenced to substantive sentences of seven years
and one year respectively. His conviction and sentence has been affirmed   H
                                  771
772              SUPREME COURT REPORTS                         [2018] 10 S.C.R.


A     by the High Court by dismissing present appeal. We do not see any
      reason to upset the orders of conviction and sentence and as such this
      petition stands dismissed.
             2. We, however, notice from the judgments of both, the trial court
      and the High Court that the victim in the present case who was examined
B     as PW2 has been named all through. Such a course is not consistent
      with Section 228-Aof IPC though the explanation makes an exception
      in favour of the judgments of the superior court. Nonetheless, every
      attempt should be made by all the courts not to disclose the identity of
      the victim in terms of said Section 228-A IPC. It has been so laid down
      by this Court in State of Punjab v. Ramdev Singh reported in (2004)1
C     SCC 421.
             3. While dismissing the present matter, we direct the Registry of
      the High Court to place the record of the appeal in the High Court before
      the learned Judge for causing appropriate changes in the record including
      passing appropriate practice directions so that the trial courts in the State
D     comply with the mandate and spirit of Section 228- A IPC.
      Devika Gujral                                                Petition dismissed.




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