It is high time courts are required to bestow their supervisory jurisdiction on print and electronic media as well, when occasions demand, the Karnataka High Court has said. Stating that persons who handle print and electronic media are “required to show utmost restraint in using unparliamentary or defamatory words while reporting news”, the court said: “It is expected that people who are managing the print and electronic media, editors/chief editors bestow their best attention in achieving the said object.”
Justice V. Srishananda made these observations while quashing the criminal proceedings initiated against the editors of four Kannada newspapers in 2012 based on a complaint by an advocate.
The court quashed the proceedings after the petitioner-editors tendered an unconditional apology along with an undertaking that they would exercise necessary restraint while preparing news item/s so as to not to harm the dignity of all concerned, and maintain prudent attitude while reporting news.
