Bangalore, Karnataka
The Karnataka High Court has directed all newspapers and television channels"to exercise care, caution, and act with a sense of responsibility while reporting court proceedings", while taking note of recent instances of incorrect reporting and inappropriate headlines published by two newspapers.

The news reports, which were related to court proceedings,"should not degenerate to personal levels and more so, for characterising the conduct of court proceedings. We are sure that this note of caution will be appreciated in its right spirit and implemented in action in future by the media in general," said a Division Bench comprising Justice D.V. Shylendra Kumar and Justice H.S. Kempanna.

Suo motu action

The note of caution was issued by the Bench while dropping the criminal contempt of court proceedings initiated suo motu against the editors and publishers of Bangalore Mirror and DNA. They tendered an"unconditional apology" to the court, while admitting the"mistakes" and publishing an apology in their respective newspapers.

"˜In larger interests"™

The Bench observed:"Though any publication, even in a news daily, which is misleading or mischievous is not welcome nor can it be said to be healthy manner of reporting court proceedings, particularly by characterising the proceedings in a manner which becomes personal and therefore, corrective action was taken, etc., we are nevertheless of the view that the majesty of justice is sub-served in such matters and, therefore, in the larger interest of justice and to hold the dignity and decorum of court proceedings, we do ignore many such pinpricks or ups and downs in dissemination of the news, including the court proceedings, and we would accept an unconditional apology"¦"

The court had initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Bangalore Mirror for"distorting the proceedings and tarnishing the image of the judiciary" in its reports published in August and September on the proceedings related to adjudication of matrimonial cases by a Division Bench comprising Justice Bhakthavatsala and Justice B.S. Indrakala.