A single bench of Justice Vishal Dhagat has issued notice to Director General of Police, Bhopal, Superintendent of Police, Jabalpur, Police Station In-charge, Belkheda and District Education Officer, Jabalpur and sought their response in the case of revealing identity of the rape victim. The next hearing of the case will be after four weeks. Advocates Ashok Kumar Gupta and Gurdeep Singh Wadhwa presented their case on behalf of the petitioner city District Congress President Saurabh Nati Sharma. They argued that an innocent girl was raped by her teacher under Belkheda police station last day.

 

As per the rules, the identity of the rape victim is concealed. But the District Education Officer, Jabalpur revealed the identity of the minor rape victim. The identity of any rape victim cannot be revealed under Section 72(1) of the Indian Penal Code 2023, Section 33(7) of the POCSO Act and Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015. The petition demanded that an FIR be registered against the TI and DEO of Belkheda police station. It was also demanded that the DGP be directed to issue a guideline across the state regarding the said Act. According to the petitioner, the police registered a case against the accused teacher in this matter. Being a government employee, the Belkheda police station in-charge had written a letter to the District Education Officer. In the letter, the police station in-charge revealed the name of the rape victim. District Education Officer, Jabalpur Ghanshyam Soni suspended the accused teacher. In the suspension order, the District Education Officer mentioned the name of the minor rape victim. Revealing the name of the rape victim in this manner is a crime. There is a provision of fine along with two years of imprisonment for this crime.