[dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE Supreme Court of India today issued notice to the Central Government and all states government on two separate but identical Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petitions seeking guidelines to protect the identity, reputation and integrity of individuals accused of sexual offences till the completion of the probe into the allegations.
The public interest petitions were filed by a Reepak Kansal and the Youth Bar Association of India
The petition by the Youth Bar Association of India, said that false accusations sometimes “destroy the entire life of an innocent person” and there have been instances where the accused who had been falsely implicated have even committed suicide.
“The allegations of sexual harassment tarnishes the image, repute and goodwill of such person/s in society and it adversely affects his entire life in all terms even if, at later point of time he is found to be innocent,” the petitioners said.
The matter was heard by Justices S A Bobde and B R Gavai.
