No report on judge-lawyer arguments

Press Council tells media

Bangladesh Press Council yesterday banned the media from publishing the arguments and discussions between judges and lawyers during hearing of cases in court.

“The media must refrain from publishing any comments or opinions, which might affect the verdict of sub judice cases and hamper the image and dignity of the judges,” the council said in a statement.

The arguments between judges and lawyers during proceedings are only the courts’ resources and these are not publishable in the media, according to the statement.

It, however, added that the actual picture of ongoing cases could be published in the media. If any doubt arose, the media could only publish the information after verifying the details from the relevant bench officer, High Court registrar and Appellate Division, it said.

The council statement requested all print, electronic and online media to follow the guideline with extreme caution and asked them to refrain from publishing reports that might hamper the image and dignity of the Supreme Court and judges.

Specially, the media outlets were requested to follow Article 16 of the Code of Conduct of 1993 (amended 2002), which was formulated by Bangladesh Press Council for journalists.

According to the code of conduct, it is the responsibility of newspapers to publish news relating to a case under trial and to publish the final judgment of the court to reveal the actual picture of the issues related to the trial. But a journalist shall refrain from publishing such comment or opinion that is likely to influence a sub judice case until the final verdict is announced.

Bangladesh Press Council issued the notice in line with an August 7 order passed by an HC bench of Justices Obaidul Hassan and Mohammad Ali on the issue of judicial proceedings during the hearing of a writ petition. On May 16, the apex court authorities had issued a notice asking the media not to report on any sub judice matter in newspapers and TV.

“Recently, it has appeared that some TV channels and newspapers were broadcasting or publishing the proceeding of sub judice cases, which is unprecedented. Amidst this situation, all concerned are requested to refrain from publishing any sub judice proceedings of cases,” according to an SC statement.

Then on May 21, the SC had issued another statement to clarify its instructions. “The Bangladesh Supreme Court always believes in the freedom of the press. The publication of reports or broadcasts that tarnish the dignity of the court and influence ongoing trials are not desirable,” the SC statement had clarified.

The apex court clarification had come five days after the Editors’ Guild, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Law Reporters Forum and several other media organisations had expressed their surprise over the court’s earlier instructions.

No report on judge-lawyer arguments

Press Council tells media

Bangladesh Press Council yesterday banned the media from publishing the arguments and discussions between judges and lawyers during hearing of cases in court. The media must refrain from publishing any comments or opinions, which might affect the verdict of sub judice cases and hamper the image and dignity of the judges, the council said in a statement. The arguments between judges and lawyers during proceedings are only the courts resources and these are not publishable in the media, according to the statement. It, however, added that the actual picture of ongoing cases could be published in the media. If any doubt arose, the media could only publish the information after verifying the details from the relevant bench officer, High Court registrar and Appellate Division, it said. The council statement requested all print, electronic and online media to follow the guideline with extreme caution and asked them to refrain from publishing reports that might hamper the image and dignity of the Supreme Court and judges. Specially, the media outlets were requested to follow Article 16 of the Code of Conduct of 1993 (amended 2002), which was formulated by Bangladesh Press Council for journalists. According to the code of conduct, it is the responsibility of newspapers to publish news relating to a case under trial and to publish the final judgment of the court to reveal the actual picture of the issues related to the trial. But a journalist shall refrain from publishing such comment or opinion that is likely to influence a sub judice case until the final verdict is announced. Bangladesh Press Council issued the notice in line with an August 7 order passed by an HC bench of Justices Obaidul Hassan and Mohammad Ali on the issue of judicial proceedings during the hearing of a writ petition. On May 16, the apex court authorities had issued a notice asking the media not to report on any sub judice matter in newspapers and TV. Recently, it has appeared that some TV channels and newspapers were broadcasting or publishing the proceeding of sub judice cases, which is unprecedented. Amidst this situation, all concerned are requested to refrain from publishing any sub judice proceedings of cases, according to an SC statement. Then on May 21, the SC had issued another statement to clarify its instructions. The Bangladesh Supreme Court always believes in the freedom of the press. The publication of reports or broadcasts that tarnish the dignity of the court and influence ongoing trials are not desirable, the SC statement had clarified. The apex court clarification had come five days after the Editors Guild, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Law Reporters Forum and several other media organisations had expressed their surprise over the courts earlier instructions.