REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL/CRIMINAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 565 OF 2012 NIPUN SAXENA & ANR. …PETITIONER(S)

Versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. …RESPONDENT(S)

WITH W.P. (Crl.) No. 1 of 2013 W.P. (C) No. 22 of 2013 W.P. (C) No. 148 of 2013 SLP (CRL.).......CRLMP. No.16041/2014 W.P. (C) No. 568 of 2012

J U D G M E N T

Deepak Gupta, J.

Signature1 Not .Verified How and in what manner the identity of adult victims of Digitally signed by SANJAY KUMAR Date: 2019.03.28 Reason:rape and children who are victims of sexual abuse should be protected so that they are not subjected to unnecessary ridicule, social ostracisation and harassment, is one of the issues which arises in these cases.

2. We are dividing this judgment into two parts. The first part deals with the victims of the offence of rape under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short ‘IPC’) and the second part deals with victims who are subjected to offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for short ‘POCSO’).

3. In this judgment any reference to “media” will include all types of media including press, electronic and social media etc..

Ist Part

4. Unfortunately, in our society,