While hearing a suo motu plea linked to the rape and murder of a junior postgraduate doctor in Kolkata, the Supreme Court expressed grave concern over the victim’s name and photograph being flashed all across India. Heading the bench, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and other Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra expressed grievance at such exposure, considering the sensitivity of the case and the consequences it may have on the integrity of the investigation and the dignity of the victim.

The matter figured sixth in the apex court’s cause list, and the hearing started at 10:30 in the morning. It was a petition filed on August 9 for an expanded scope of judicial scrutiny into the case. This would include how the case is handled in the public domain, and to see that the privacy of the victim is protected at all stages of the judicial process.

The Court has prioritized the case, showing how serious it is and also how careful one must be in deciding to protect the rights of the victim and the integrity of the legal process.

While the Supreme Court has asked why no FIR was registered since the crime was discovered early in the morning, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal replied an unnatural death case was registered. The Supreme Court drew attention that late night, too, no FIR was filed, which makes it a clear case of murder. Sibal responded, also the inquest report seems to suggest it was a murder case.