Gujarat High Court Refuses to Quash FIR Against Lawyer Who Disclosed POCSO Victim’s Identity in Media

The Gujarat High Court declined to quash an FIR registered against a woman lawyer who allegedly disclosed the identity of a minor POCSO victim in a media bite. The court described her conduct as “absolutely irresponsible … as a professional as well as a human” for airing the minor’s name publicly and encouraging the child victim to give media statements. The woman had offered shelter to the victim whose earlier FIR had been lodged; subsequent FIRs and issues concerning observation home followed. The father of the minor reportedly found out about the disclosure via news channels, and claimed the lawyer influenced the victim mother and child to make statements publicly. The FIR was lodged under Section 23(4) of the POCSO Act and Section 74(3) of the Juvenile Justice Act, which prohibit disclosure of child identity and mandate protection of privacy. The applicant’s argument that media has duty to conceal names was rejected; prima facie, the offence is made out and investigation must continue.