New Delhi, (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday directed social media platform, MeiTY, to ensure to take down the R G Kar hospital rape victim’s posts, pictures and videos which have proliferated all across social media.
Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said, “The attention of the court has been drawn towards pictures of the deceased along with videos which have proliferated all across social media.”
The earlier order of Wikipedia shall apply to all social media intermediaries and ensure that no picture, etc, of the victim of R G Kar is displayed.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that the social media platform MeiTY shall nominate a nodal officer who shall communicate the uploading of any such info and that necessary action can be taken with the intermediary to take down such posts.
Meity shall also consider laying down guidelines to handle such cases, the court directed.
A bench, comprising Chief Justice Chandrachud, Justice J B Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra, was hearing the developments into the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor case at Kolata’s R G Kar hospital.
While hearing the suo moto case in the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, Advocate Vrinda Grover told the court that she needs to hand over some documents in the sealed cover.
There are a lot of social media posts, which are using the pictures of the girl’s face. Which is completely illegal, Ms Grover said.
The CJI said, “law enforcement authorities have to implement our order now.”
Ms Grover asked the court if a nodal officer could be appointed who could review and look at it.
“The family can inform the officer as and when they come across it. It is very disturbing,” Ms Grover said.
Senior advocate Karuna Nundy informed the court that there are reels using her picture and artificial intelligence and then they use Hindi film songs.
The CJI said that the state of West Bengal must contact all social media platforms now.
Ms Grover said that there is a film now on youtube, which is being released Tuesday (tomorrow), based on R G Kar incident… now how do we know how the girl has been portrayed and how it will impact the probe?”
The CJI then directed the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, “ Mr SG if you can ask MeiTY to look into this and see if such links can be brought down.”
Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani pointed that no FIR has been lodged against the police commissioner for revealing the name of the girl in a press conference.
The High Court had not only asked for clarification but whether the apex court will look into this issue or not, Jethmalani said.
The court also asked “Why is the progress in the case so slow. The bench also asked the State of West Bengal about the status of work on the installation of CCTV cameras, construction of toilets and separate resting rooms, etc., in the medical college.
The bench also asked the State of West Bengal about the status of work on the installation of CCTV cameras, construction of toilets and separate resting rooms, etc, in the above-mentioned college.
The CJI passed the order saying, “The attention of the court has been drawn towards pictures of the deceased, along with videos, which have proliferated on across social media. the earlier order of Wikipedia shall apply to all social media intermediaries and ensure that no picture, etc., of the victim of R G is displayed.
SG Mehta states that MeiTY shall nominate a nodal officer, who shall communicate uploading of any such info and that necessary action can be taken with the intermediary to take down such posts. Meity shall also consider laying down guidelines to handle such cases, he said.
Senior Advocate Indira Jaising suggested, “not everybody reads the judgment of this court. let this order be given wide publicity.”
The CJI said, “If you have to stop the film, take legal recourse.”
The court directed, “The parents of the deceased are disconcerted by repeated clips in social media referring to pictures and reels. Besides these clips, videos have also proliferated. Our earlier order clearly applies to all concerning intermediaries and to reiterate, no intermediary shall be allowed to carry the name or pictures of her identity. MEITY shall notify a nodal officer in relation to any uploading of unauthorised publication which is to be taken down.”
