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Synopsis

The Calcutta High Court on Monday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation plea seeking direction to restrain the telecast of an interview of a sitting judge given to a news channel.

A bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj noted, "We have full faith that Hon'ble Judge/Judges of this Court will have due regard to the same while making any statement at any occasion."

The petitioner submitted that a Bengali news channel "ABP Ananda" is going to telecast/broadcast an interview of one of the sitting judges of the Calcutta High Court. The plea sought direction to stop the telecast/broadcast of any interview of a sitting judge on any channel, website, web application, or any other form of print, electronic or social media.

It was argued that such an interview is contrary to the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life and the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, therefore, immediate restraining order should be issued to prohibit the media house to telecast any such interview.

The Advocate General also argued that nothing should be permitted which can affect the reputation of the institution and that the primary concern is to protect the institution.

However, the counsel appearing for the media house submitted that there was no cause of action to file the petition and that the petition was based on assumptions and presumptions and that the hon'ble judge was aware of his responsibilities.

In view of the above, the bench opined, "So far as the reference to the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life adopted by Full Court Meeting of the Supreme Court of India on 7th May, 1997 is concerned, we have no doubt that it is within the knowledge of all the Hon'ble Judges of the Court."

"Therefore, we have full faith that Hon'ble Judge/Judges of this Court will have due regard to the same while making any statement at any occasion. Same is the position in respect of Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct," the bench added.

Moreover, the bench said, "We also expect that respondent No. 2 (media house), in the larger public interest, will not telecast or broadcast anything which may have an adverse effect on the image of the judiciary."

Case Title: Sk. Saidullah Vs. Registrar General, Hon'ble High Court at Calcutta and Another