Delhi-HC rejects plea restricting media from publishing allegations against CJI
What's the story
The Delhi High Court today refused to entertain a plea seeking to restrain the media from publishing allegations of sexual-harassment against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi by a former Supreme Court employee. A bench headed by Chief Justice Rajendra Menon dismissed the plea filed by an NGO and said the top court is already seized of the matter and no interference was needed.
Details
Go to the Supreme Court, said the bench to NGO
"Go to the Supreme Court," said the bench to NGO Anti Corruption Council of India, which had said publication of allegations against the CJI directly hit the Indian judicial system. The petition had sought immediate restriction on the media from further telecasting or publishing the allegations till the conclusion of the three-judge panel's inquiry arrives. The panel held its first proceeding on last Friday.
Plea
Plea sought restriction directions for electronic, print and social media
The allegations leveled by the former woman employee of the Supreme Court are being inquired into by a three-judge panel of the apex court, which held its first proceeding on last Friday. Besides electronic and print media, the plea had also sought restriction directions for various social media platforms. In its petition, the NGO has listed five parties including the Delhi Police Commissioner.
Information
Petition arrayed five parties including MIB, PCI and DPC
The petition had arrayed as parties the Ministries of Law and Justice and Information and Broadcasting, the Delhi government, the Press Council of India and the Delhi Police Commissioner. Directions had been sought for WhatsApp, Google, YouTube, LinkedIn Corporation and news website, Scroll.in.
Argument
Vast damage caused to nation, people will be 'irreparable': Plea
Suspecting the involvement of "anti-national elements", advocates Hussain Mueen Farooq and B Sudha argued that if publication of these allegations is not restricted, "people will lose faith in the Indian judicial system" and that it will a direct hit on the judicial system. The plea said that the "vast damage" caused to the nation and its people would be "irreparable".