The second crime is derived from this, which is the public character assassination that follows when a victim’s family begin their quest for justice. The core of the legal mandate to protect a victim’s dignity lies in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, often called the “Nirbhaya Act”. Prohibition on character evidenceCriminal jurisprudence has developed to the extent of making amendments to prevent the ‘character assassination’ of victims. The Phaltan case exemplifies how institutional commentary may inadvertently result in character assassination, a practice that is strictly prohibited under criminal law within judicial proceedings. As a society, we need to stop being tolerant of societal attitudes that question a victim’s character.

Source: The Hindu January 10, 2026 12:48 UTC