New contempt of court law soon: Law minister
Journalists should be cautious while reporting on the judiciary so that its dignity is upheld
Law minister advocate Anisul Huq yesterday said the government will formulate a new contempt of court law soon, as the Contempt of Court Act of 1926 has become redundant following the expansion of media in the country.
A new contempt of court law is urgently necessary in the country. I will take the initiative to pass a Bill on a fresh contempt of court law in Parliament as the Contempt of Court Act, 1926, has become almost redundant due to extension of the media, the law minister said while addressing a workshop on judicial reporting, organised by the Law Reporters Forum (LRF) at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), where he was the chief guest.
The government will take the initiative very soon in consultation with relevant stakeholders to formulate the law, the minister said.
Noting that the media is the fourth estate, Huq said the judiciary is also an important organ of the state. The journalists should be cautious while reporting on the judiciary so that its dignity, prestige and image are upheld.
It is a very hard task for journalists to write on the judiciary, as they have to face contempt of court charges due to inaccurate reporting, if any.
So, those who have been doing work related to the judiciary have to be more cautious while writing reports, the minister added.
He said that the country would benefit if journalists discharge their duties properly. Addressing the workshop as special guest, newly elected vice president of the Bar Council, advocate Abdul Baset Majumder, said that law reporters should be more careful while writing reports on the judiciary. A vested quarter is involved in corruption in the judiciary.
Journalists should investigate and write about it, he added.
Addressing the workshop as a special guest, SCBA secretary Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon said most of the government employees are involved in corruption. He also alleged that some judicial officials of the lower court were involved in corruption. Journalists should report on these activities, he added.
Supreme Court lawyer advocate Ahsanul Karim, senior journalists Faruq Kazi, Kazi Abdul Hannan, Shohiduzzaman, Saleh Uddin and Jahidul Islam, among others, also spoke at the workshop, while LRF president Badiuzzaman presided over the programme.
