HC stresses media's impact on society, emphasises responsibility of journalists for peaceful society

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Allowing a batch of petitions by newspaper publishers and editors and quahing a decade old case pending against them, the High Court has stressed the responsibility of the media in publishing news.

"Members of the print and electronic media are expected to carry news items in a most decent manner. Publication of news items which are referred to in extenso in the complaint by the respondent prima facie does not fulfil such requirements. It is high time that the Courts are required to bestow its supervisory jurisdiction on the print and electronic media as well, when such occasions demand it," Justice V Shrishananda said in his judgement from the Dharwad bench of the HC on July 24.

The HC quashed the case pending against them following a complaint by advocate Davalsab. In all four petitions, were filed by Lok Shikshan Trust, 'Samyukta Karnataka', 'Hosadiganta', 'Navodaya' and 'Kittur Karnataka' daily newspapers.

In respect of incidents that happened in the precincts of City Civil Court, Bengaluru a resolution passed by the advocates' associations across the State resolved that journalists involved will not be represented by them.

It was alleged that "One of the Members of the legislative assembly termed the resolution passed by the advocates' association as 'Taliban Mentality'. In the guise of reporting the said discussion, the print media have used unparliamentary words in their publications including terming the advocates' fraternity at large as 'Goonda Mentality'.

Some papers termed the resolution following the statement made by one of the Members of the Legislative Assembly as 'Taliban Mentality' by repeating the words spoken by Member of Legislative Assembly."

Davalsab had field a private complaint in this regard.

Quashing the case pending before the lower court the HC said, "Taking note of the fact that the incident is of the year 2012 and the matter is now pending before the JMFC, Gadag, placing the unconditional apology in the form of affidavits placed by the petitioners, this Court is of the considered opinion that pending criminal proceedings as against the petitioners can be brought to logical end."