Court calls for fair reporting of court proceedings

The “distorted reporting” of court proceedings in the 2017 actor rape case irked the trial court judge on Friday.

When the court convened in the morning to decide on the quantum of punishment for the convicts in the case, an exasperated Honey M. Varghese, the Principal Sessions Judge, suggested fair reporting of court proceedings and balanced comments without slandering the judicial system.

“Media and lawyers should be aware of the fact that every freedom, including the freedom of speech and expression, is governed by reasonable restrictions. All are welcome to do a background check on me. The court has been the target of slanderous campaigns from the beginning of the trial of the case. Lawyers and the general public shall desist from defaming the judicial system, as any such act would invite contempt of court proceedings. The freedom of speech and expression has reasonable limits,” Ms. Varghese pointed out.

The judge noted in the judgment that the case had created a public sensation. However, the sensational nature of the case shall not leave any impact on its mind while awarding the sentence.

Earlier in the day when the court considered the case, the convicts sought lenient punishment, citing familial reasons, including their poor economic background.

The Special Prosecutor Ajakumar, who sought maximum punishment for the convicts so as to send a message to society, later noted that only a minimum punishment was awarded to the convicts in the case.

The judge had handed down rigorous imprisonment for 20 years for all the convicts in the case.

The court will consider a batch of contempt of court proceedings booked against some TV channels and individuals on December 18.