SC declines restraint on Aarushi murder coverage

New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) Observing it was an importanttool of democracy, the Supreme Court today declined toinitiate any fresh contempt action against the media forextensively reporting on Aarushi Talwar murder case.

A bench of justices Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph,however, hoped the media would exercise certain restraint andself-regulation in reporting such incidents.

"We expect the media to exercise restraint andself-regulation. Punishing the media will not solve theproblem. The media is an important tool of democracy. Let ussee what kind of self-restraint they will observe.

"It is a matter that needs to be examined at length,"Justice Kabir speaking for the bench said.

The apex court made the remarks while rejecting the pleaof petitioner and advocate Surat Singh who sought initiationof contempt proceedings against "India Today" magazine forreporting minute details of the Aarushi murder case.

Singh submitted the magazine was reporting explicitdetails of the deceased despite the apex court''s earlier orderon July 22, 2008, asking the media not to pre-judge the issue.

On May 16, 2008 Aarushi Talwar, daughter of a dentistcouple, and the family''s domestic help Hemaraj were foundmurdered in the Talwars'' house in Jalvayu Vihar in Noida.

The apex court, while declining to entertain Singh''splea, however, transferred to itself a similar writ petitionfiled in the Delhi High Court seeking certain guidelines formedia in reporting pending criminal matters as they affect therights of the victims and accused.

The bench posted both the petitions for final hearingto April 19.