Contempt proceedings not to terrorise media: CJI
Defending the contempt of court provisions, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan said they were not aimed at "terrorising" the media but asked the press to be cautious while reporting court proceedings, especially rape cases.
KOCHI: Defending the contempt of court provisions, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on Saturday said they were not aimed at "terrorising" the media but asked the press to be cautious while reporting court proceedings, especially rape cases.
However, he favoured an element of sensationalism to make news interesting.
Contempt proceedings were to protect the 'Majesty' of courts. "If there is no contempt proceedings, none will implement the court orders," he said in his inaugural address at a workshop on 'Reporting of Court proceedings by Media and administration of justice for Legal correspondents and Journalists'.
Urging the media to exercise caution while reporting court proceedings, he said caution was especially needed while reporting cases like rape wherein the names of the victim and her families should not be mentioned. "Press has a duty to keep secrecy".
Touching on the issue of media sensationalising some reports, he said sensationalism should be there, otherwise all news reports would read as Kerala gazette. "Only when there is sensationalism, people will read. But this exercise should be used with a tinge of responsibility," he said.
He also asked the media to exercise responsibility while reporting comments made by judges in open court. Discretion should be there on what to publish or telecast.
Observing that judges can't hear cases just like robots, he said "In India there is interaction between judges and lawyers and when they speak, we report." That may not have any impact on pronouncements.
"In India courts and lawyers argue and argue. It is not possible to control lawyers. So we pass comments," he said.
However, he favoured an element of sensationalism to make news interesting.
Contempt proceedings were to protect the 'Majesty' of courts. "If there is no contempt proceedings, none will implement the court orders," he said in his inaugural address at a workshop on 'Reporting of Court proceedings by Media and administration of justice for Legal correspondents and Journalists'.
Urging the media to exercise caution while reporting court proceedings, he said caution was especially needed while reporting cases like rape wherein the names of the victim and her families should not be mentioned. "Press has a duty to keep secrecy".
Touching on the issue of media sensationalising some reports, he said sensationalism should be there, otherwise all news reports would read as Kerala gazette. "Only when there is sensationalism, people will read. But this exercise should be used with a tinge of responsibility," he said.
He also asked the media to exercise responsibility while reporting comments made by judges in open court. Discretion should be there on what to publish or telecast.
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Observing that judges can't hear cases just like robots, he said "In India there is interaction between judges and lawyers and when they speak, we report." That may not have any impact on pronouncements.
"In India courts and lawyers argue and argue. It is not possible to control lawyers. So we pass comments," he said.
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