Chief Justice asks media to protect privacy while reporting criminal cases

Mumbai, Oct 19 : Chief Justice of India K. G. Balakrishnan has emphasized the need to protect the privacy of persons while reporting on the criminal cases in print and electronic media.

Justice Balakrishnan was speaking at the inaugural function of the regional workshop on reporting of court proceedings by media and administration of justice in Mumbai High court this morning.

The day long workshop is organized jointly by National Legal Services Authority, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, Press Council of India, Editors Guild and the Indian law institute.

The Chief justice said that sometimes facts are distorted, coverage's border on contempt of courts and violation of privacy takes place due to market demands and lack of editing.

He also said that the National legal service authority was thinking of imparting some training to the journalists covering the courts for this reason.

Acknowledging the explosion of information and some need for element of surprise in reporting as part of the working of media, Justice Balakrishnan said even the reporting about preliminary investigations before filing an FIR may affect the fair trial.

The workshop is attended by a large number of journalistic fraternities from the western region and eminent jurists and media persons are taking part in the three sessions on freedom of press use and abuses in media reporting, reasonableness of restrictions on reporting matters sub-judice and trial by media -understanding implications through case studies.

ANI