Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

Judge raps media; lays down reporting rules

A special judge on Friday told the media to follow certain guidelines for reporting court proceedings in the Unit Trust of India scam case and pulled up two city journalists for entering his chamber and questioning him on administrative matters.

Before hearing CBI's remand and bail plea of the accused in UTI scam case, judge S R Mehra said he would deliver an order on guidelines to be followed by media-persons while reporting court proceedings.

He said that discussions between the judge, lawyers, police officers, CBI or government officers in the open court did not form part of the judicial proceedings and reporters should refrain from publishing them or face contempt action.

The judge opined that the best course for journalists would be to obtain certified copies of orders from the court's registrar to report the true contents of judicial verdicts.

He warned that any news item, which were not drawn from official court records would invite penal action against the concerned correspondent and newspaper.

The judge also cautioned the journalists to avoid in their reports defamatory or scandalous remarks against the government or its agencies like CBI, police and the court. Otherwise, they may face contempt action, he warned.

The court also warned media-persons to refrain from entering the chamber of a judge to seek a personal interview.

The journalists were also warned against displaying mobiles or notebooks in the open court, which may cause distraction to the court proceedings. Switched off cell phones should be kept inside their pockets or bags.

Tell us what you think of this report