Supreme Court - Daily Orders
In Re: Right To Privacy Of Adolescents vs For on 3 April, 2025
Author: Abhay S. Oka
Bench: Abhay S. Oka
ITEM NO.7 COURT NO.4 SECTION X
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
SUO MOTO WRIT PETITION(CIVIL) No(s). 3/2023
IN RE: RIGHT TO PRIVACY OF ADOLESCENTS
[TO BE TAKEN UP AT 12.30 P.M.]
WITH Crl.A. No. 1451/2024
(IA No. 267602/2023 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED
JUDGMENT)
Date : 03-04-2025 These matters were called on for hearing today.
CORAM :
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ABHAY S. OKA
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE UJJAL BHUYAN
By Courts Motion
Ms. Madhavi Divan, Sr. Adv. (Amicus Curiae)
Ms. Liz Mathew, Sr. Adv. (Amicus Curiae)
Ms. Nidhi Khanna, AOR
Ms. Aishani Narain, Adv.
Mr. Sameer Choudhary, Adv.
Ms. Aandrita Deb, Adv.
Ms. Bagavathy Vennimalai, Adv.
Ms. Mallika Agarwal, Adv.
For Appellant(s) :
in Crl.A.No.1451/ Mr. Huzefa Ahmadi, Sr. Adv.
2024 Mr. Kunal Mimani, AOR
Mr. Abhinav Rana, Adv.
For Respondent(s) :
Nos.1 & 2 in Mr. Dibyadyuti Banerjee, Adv.
Crl.A.1451/2024 Ms. Sumedha Halder, Adv.
Mr. Abhijit Sengupta, AOR
Mr. Paras Chauhan, Adv.
Mr. Navneet Kansal, Adv.
Mr. Manoj Kumar, Adv.
Mr. Dhananjay Kumar, Adv.
For State of Mr. Huzefa Ahmadi, Sr. Adv.
West Bengal
Signature Not Verified
Mr. Kunal Mimani, AOR
Digitally signed by
ANITA MALHOTRA
Date: 2025.04.05
Mr. Abhinav Rana, Adv.
16:57:35 IST
Reason:
1
For intervenor(s)
Ms. Nidhi Jaswal, AOR
Mr. Amogh Bansal, Adv
Ms. Ankita Sharma, AOR
Mr. Arjun D Singh, Adv.
Ms. Chinmaee Chandra, Adv.
Ms. Archana Surve Shinde, Adv.
Dr. N. Visakamurthy, AOR
Mr. Anuj Bhandari, AOR
Ms. Astha Sharma, AOR
Mr. Aravindh S., AOR
Mr. Aadithya Aravindh, Adv.
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
We have interacted with the following members of the Committee of Experts:
(1) Dr. Pekham Basu, Assistant Professor, Centre for Equity and Justice for Children and Families, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai – Expert Member, (2) Smt. Jayita Saha, Clinical Psychologist, Pavlov Hospital & COE, CNMCH, Kolkata, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal – Expert Member and (3) Mr. Sanjeeb Rakshit, District Social Welfare Officer, South 24 Parganas – Member Secretary. 2
At the outset, we must compliment the role played by the three experts and the assistance they have rendered to the Court and to the learned senior counsel appointed as amicus curiae.
We have heard the victim.
We are not recording in detail what actually transpired, but we are of the view that the victim needs a financial help. After the victim completes her 10th Board Examination, we will have to explore the possibility of whether any vocational training can be given to her or whether part-time employment can be extended to her.
On this aspect, we will need the help of the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority. We, therefore, issue notice to the Member Secretary of the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority, returnable on 1st May, 2025. To be listed at 2.00 p.m. We also request the Member Secretary to interact with the learned senior counsel appointed as amicus curiae and also the learned counsel for the State of West Bengal so that the Member Secretary can be made aware about the nature of help and assistance required from the State Legal Services Authority.
The Registry is directed to forward a copy of this order directly to the Member Secretary of the West Bengal Legal Services Authority.
3 We request the Member Secretary to remain present before the Court on the returnable date through video conference.
The learned senior counsel appearing for the State of West Bengal was present today. We request him to take instructions from the officers of the State in what manner the State can extend the helping hand to the victim.
We will consider the submissions of the learned counsel on that day. The learned counsel are free to file supplementary note. The State can also file its response well in advance.
(ANITA MALHOTRA) (AVGV RAMU)
AR-CUM-PS COURT MASTER
4