SC mulls guidelines on media reporting, social media coverage of court proceedings

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Supreme Court has indicated it is considering establishing clear rules regarding media reporting and dissemination of judiciary-related events on social media. This issue arose following the recent incident in which a shoe was thrown at the then Chief Justice of India (CJI). The court clarified that a detailed hearing on this matter will be held in January.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central government, told the court that the government would consult with the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and submit joint recommendations. These recommendations would include measures to prevent such incidents in the future, as well as clear guidelines regarding media reporting and social media coverage of incidents that do occur.

The hearing is being held on a petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association seeking action against Rakesh Kishore for his alleged misconduct on the court premises and to regulate the reporting of such incidents. However, a bench headed by then-Chief Justice Surya Kant had previously clarified that it had no intention of taking action against Rakesh Kishore, as former CJI Justice Gavai had already pardoned him.

The Supreme Court stated unequivocally that its objective was not to punish any individual, but rather to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future and to establish a balanced system for their reporting. The Court emphasized that it is essential to maintain balance in the dissemination of news related to the judiciary in the media and on social media, so as to maintain the dignity and institutional respect of the judicial process.