SC orders withholding of identity of sex crime victims

The Supreme Court directed the investigators, prosecutors and media to withhold the identity of victims of rape, abortion, sexual harassment, human trafficking or HIV/AIDS while working on such cases.The apex court strictly directed the authorities to maintain secrecy of the victims while investigating, prosecuting, adjudicating justice and their implementation of any verdict and publication of news.A division bench of Justices Khil Raj Regmi and Kalyan Shrestha issued the directives with its full text of judgment responding to a PIL filed by chairperson of Forum for Women Law and Development Sapana Pradhan Malla.The case was decided on December 25 but the apex court released the full text of judgment today and ordered the authorities to implement the directive from January 24 until the government promulgates an Act.The apex court directed the Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the House, Ministries of Women, Children and Social Welfare and Health and Population to promulgate an Act in this regard. The court order has stated that a contempt of court charge will be initiated against anyone found not following it.