Censorship – Publications

A Delhi court has refused to restrain media from reporting the alleged sexual harassment case against RK Pachauri, former Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), but asked the press to play a balanced role and shun sensationalism.

The court acknowledged the right of the public to know the developments in the case and asserted that any gag order would “trample” that right. It said the earlier ‘interim orders’ asking the media to report the high-profile case in a particular manner, as “uncalled for” and hence, stood “vacated”.

“The injunction, as sought for, falls foul to the said explicit proposition of the law. Such restraints as sought for, not only amount to enforcing a gag order upon the media but at the same time prevents the right of the public to be kept updated about the developments their right to know is infracted or trampled upon,” Additional District Judge Sumit Dass said.