Date:05/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/05/stories/2009010552530500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Notices to newspapers, TV channel for identifying juveniles

Staff Reporter

They revealed name of a 16-year-old boy in a report about a forcible sex change
Act prohibits media from disclosing the particulars of those under 18 years

BANGALORE: The Child Welfare Committee has issued notices to several newspapers and a television channel for allegedly violating the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act by revealing the name of a 16-year-old boy in a report about a forcible sex change operation and his rescue from transsexuals.

The CWC’s action came after a complaint by the Alternative Law Forum (ALF) against the report that appeared in November.

The forum also objected to the publication of the boy’s photograph.

This, according to the ALF, was in violation of Section 21 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act.

This Section prohibits newspapers, magazines and the visual media from disclosing the name and other particulars besides publishing photographs of those under 18 years.

Anybody violating the Section is liable to pay a penalty of up to Rs. 25,000.

Notices have been issued to Deccan Herald, Prajavani, The New Indian Express, Kannada Prabha, Udayavani, Samyukta Karnataka, Eenadu and TV9 Kannada news channel.

“We sent out notices asking the media to explain whether they were aware of the provisions of Act. If such violations continue, we will be forced to take legal action,” said CWC Chairperson Vasudeva Sharma.

A Prajavani representative appeared before the CWC on Thursday.

The representative said the report was published on the basis of information given by the police.

He said the newspaper henceforth would not publish anything that violated the provisions of the Act.

The CWC is awaiting the response of other newspapers and the television channel.

Not the first time

The city police have been issuing press notes naming the minors involved in the offence and also releasing their photographs. Recently a press note was issued from the west division police naming two minors involved in a case of theft. They also released the photographs.

This was published in various newspapers and also telecast by various channels.

“We cannot hold the police responsible for this. They can issue press notes giving the names. The media should be aware of the provisions of the J.J. Act and should take care not to disclose the identity of the minor,” ALF’s Arathi Mundkur told The Hindu.