Facebook asks Rahul Gandhi to remove posts on minor gang-rape victim from Instagram

NEW DELHI: As the controversy over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posting photographs on Twitter of the family of a minor Delhi girl allegedly gang-raped and killed still rages, Facebook has asked him to remove similar posts on Instagram.
In a notice issued to Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, Facebook said, “Dear Mr Gandhi, This correspondence follows up regarding our August 16 correspondence in which we forwarded a notice we received from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on August 10.”
The notice further said, "According to NCPCR's August 10 notice, a post you uploaded through your Instagram account is unlawful under Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015; Section 23 of the POCSO Act, 2012; and Section 288A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In accordance with NCPCR's note, you are requested to remove this post expeditiously.”
NCPCR had issued the first notice to Facebook on August 10. However, it did not receive any response from Facebook.
Subsequently, NCPCR issued a second notice to Facebook on August 13 with a stern warning and a direction to appear before it through video-conferencing on August 17.
It said, “The Commission had taken cognisance of a video posted on Instagram profile of Shri Rahul Gandhi wherein the identity of minor girl victim's family was disclosed... which was observed to be a violation of the prescribed provisions of law. The matter was forwarded to Facebook for removal of the post and taking action against the Instagram profile of Shri Rahul Gandhi within 3 days. However, no reply/action taken report has been received even after the lapse of 3 days' time.”
NCPCR told Facebook that sections 13 and 14 of the CPCR Act required it to appear in person through video-conferencing in the matter at 5 pm on August 17 to submit the action taken report and to explain reasons for the delay.
Issuing a warning, NCPCR said, “Take notice that if you fail to comply with this order without lawful excuse, you will be subjected to the consequences of the non-attendance as provided in rules 10 and 12 of order XVI of the Code of Civil Procedure (CrPC) 1908.”
However, Facebook responded and issued notice to Rahul Gandhi and asked him to remove the controversial post.
After the development in the matter, NCPCR exempted Facebook from appearing before it on Tuesday.
NCPCR is likely to issue an order in the matter very soon.
NCPCR had issued a similar notice to Twitter following which Rahul Gandhi’s handle was locked on August 7. Twitter unlocked it after reports appeared in a section of the media suggesting that the victim’s mother had given her consent to Rahul Gandhi for the publication of their photograph.
However, on Tuesday, the victim’s mother was seen telling another section of the media that she had not consented to the family’s photographs getting published on Twitter. The issue has taken a new turn since then with the BJP demanding that Twitter should lock Rahul Gandhi’s profile again.