When TV scribes rub judges the wrong way

They have at times denounced certain reports saying they should be based only on the final order and not on the observations made in an open court. However, the reporters, especially from visual media, are often caught in the rat race to come out with ‘breaking news’ and debates on important issues. Some reporters even tweet or put it out on other social media sites to gain ‘early bird advantage’ even before the copies of the final order is put out on the High Court website. A Bench had even gone to the extent of acknowledging that while the print media is governed by the Press Council of India, there exists no accountability on what is being reported on visual media. Moreover, the moment an anomaly is pointed out, channels take the report off the air, leaving no trace of a ‘false news’ being reported. The situation had turned bad after the Bench led by Chief Justice AP Sahi, while passing orders on CISF security in context of three judges participating in a peace protest to observe martyr’s day, said: “The reporting agencies are instructed not to report anything beyond what is recorded in the order, so as not to create any misconception or confusion.” But the scribes are more wary about failing to report court orders in time, leading to uncanny situations.