The Patna High Court ruled that media can report criminal proceedings but should avoid labels like “mastermind” or “kingpin” that suggest guilt before trial. Justice Ansul said prejudicial reporting may harm an accused’s reputation and amount to defamatory or improper conduct during pending cases.
The Karnataka High Court fined The New Indian Express Rs.10 lakh for irresponsible reporting on a sensitive judicial matter, leading to charges being dropped against a judge. Justice NS Sanjay Gowda criticized the publication for disclosing sensitive information without giving the implicated parties a chance to respond. The court emphasized the need for responsible journalism and called for an internal inquiry into the leaked report.
