Fair reporting ensures judges remain in bounds of law: HC

CHANDIGARH: While closing a contempt case against the editor and reporter of an English daily, Punjab and Haryana high court has held fair reporting of court judgments "fosters freedom of press" and is an "inseparable part of administration of justice" that ensures judges remain within the bounds of law.
HC was also of the view that prima facie a publisher or reporter cannot be held liable for criminal contempt even if a fair report of a court order results in the judge being personally attacked or scandalised.
HC said the press, print or electronic, "are angels on guard not only vis-a-vis brazen and arbitrary state action but also are angels on guard vis-a-vis verdicts of the court of law, omitting to derogate from the settled principles of law, and well-established procedure, whereby the administration of justice rather may become defiled (sic)," HC held.
The matter reached HC in the wake of a petition filed by Punjab and Haryana HC bar association against the editor-in-chief and reporter seeking criminal contempt proceedings against them for carrying a news report on May 24, 2014 titled "HC grants bail to absconding Haryana duo against rules".
The bench held that in this case, before filing a criminal contempt of court petition, the consent of the advocate general was not taken, which was mandatory because the contempt proceedings were not initiated suo motu.