Delhi High Court Directs Police to Protect Identities of Sexual Harassment Victims in Court Documents

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has issued a significant directive instructing the police not to disclose the name, father’s name, or address of women who are victims of sexual harassment in any court filings or official reports.

Justice Swarnkanta Sharma directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to issue appropriate instructions to all Station House Officers (SHOs) and investigating officers, ensuring strict compliance with laws safeguarding the identity of sexual harassment victims.

This order was passed while rejecting the bail petition of an accused in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court expressed concern over the mention of the victim’s details in a status report submitted by the investigating officer.

In its judgment dated January 14, the High Court stated: “The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the concerned area (Moti Nagar police station jurisdiction) is directed to sensitize all SHOs under their jurisdiction to ensure that the name, father’s name, or address of a sexual harassment victim is not disclosed in any status report or document submitted to the court.”

Case Background: The case pertains to an incident in 2021 where the accused allegedly lured a 12–13-year-old minor girl from her home and sexually assaulted her after confining her in a room. The victim was later rescued by her family members.

The accused claimed that he had a consensual relationship with the victim’s mother and argued that he was falsely implicated because the victim opposed their relationship. He also contended that due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2021, social interactions were minimal, making the alleged crime unlikely.

The court rejected these arguments, stating that the mere fact that the incident occurred during the pandemic cannot cast doubt on the victim’s testimony or the possibility of the crime having taken place. The court emphasized that any relationship between the accused and the victim’s mother cannot form a basis for questioning the victim’s credibility.