RG Kar Rape and Murder Case: Supreme Court Directs Wikipedia To Remove Victim’s Name and Photographs

Today (September 17, 2024), the Supreme Court (SC) of India is hearing the RG Kar Medical College Hospital rape and murder case. The bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra directed Wikipedia to remove from its pages the victim's name. It said, “In the interest of maintaining dignity and privacy of the deceased the governing principle is that identity of victim in a rape and murder case shall not be disclosed.” During the hearing, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta informed the SC that Wikipedia still has the name and photograph of the victim. Another counsel said that when Wikipedia was told to remove the same, it said, ‘they can’t be censored’. The SC bench noting its earlier order passed on August 20 to remove the victim’s name and photographs from all social media platforms, directed Wikipedia to comply with the direction. The hearing continues in the Supreme Court regarding the matter today.