Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi cautioned that unrestrained media trials can ruin judicial careers, citing a judge allegedly linked to money. He said instant public judgment often precedes court evidence, leaving reputational damage permanent and public trust shattered.
The Delhi High Court refused to grant interim relief to YSRCP leader and former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy in a defamation case over media reports on the Tirupati laddu adulteration controversy.
The Court held that restraining the media without hearing them is justified only in exceptional cases and allowed the matter to proceed after pleadings.
The Supreme Court exempted Kerala journalist Aravindan Manikoth from surrendering in a 2013 case where he was convicted under Section 354A IPC for making sexually coloured remarks through a political satire article. The Court noted that he had already paid the compensation and granted interim protection pending the State of Kerala’s response.
The Delhi High Court held that an acquitted or discharged person’s right to dignity and reputation under Article 21 can override press freedom under Article 19(1)(a). The Court upheld de-indexing of arrest-related news articles, noting that continued online availability causes lasting reputational harm.
