HC issues notice to Press Council on court reporting

New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) The Delhi High Court Wednesday
sought a response from the Press Council of India on a
petition seeking guidelines for the media while covering court
proceedings in sensitive cases like Batla House encounter.

"A line has to be drawn between the rights of the accused
and the interest of general public while covering sensitive
cases in courts," a bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah
and Justice Manmohan said and asked the Council to file its
reply before it by October 21.

The Court was hearing a PIL filed by an NGO 'Act Now
For Harmony and Democracy' seeking action against the police
officials for allegedly leaking confessional statements made
before them by the suspected terrorists to the media in the
case relating to Batla House encounter in which two terrorists
and a Delhi Police inspector were killed on September 19 last
year.

The petitioner also pleaded that the court should frame
guidelines for the media regarding publication of information
obtained by the police during investigation. (More) PTI AAC
ANU


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.