A rape convict who shares his name with former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru left the Supreme Court frowning on Wednesday.

The apex court observed that such culprits had no right to share names with exalted national leaders.

"You have committed a rape and share the name with Jawaharlal Nehru? It is a disgrace for the national ethos," a vacation bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and P P Naolekar observed.

The apex court which reserved its judgment on the alleged rapist Nehru alias Jawahar, remarked that it was high time that something was done to change the names of criminals who have their names after national icons.

"We think it is time we should do something on this issue," said the bench.

The bench also expressed its displeasure over some lapses in a medical report submitted by a doctor in the case.

"We feel the government should proceed departmentally against the doctor for giving such a report," the bench observed, while reserving its judgment.