Media Gag in Justice Karnan Case Unfair: Journos Question SC Order

The SC has ruled that print and electronic media can no longer publish Justice Karnan’s statements.

The SP has “restrained” print and electronic media from publishing statements made by Justice CS Karnan. (Photo: The Quint)

In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court, on 9 May, held a sitting judge guilty of contempt of court. Justice CS Karnan was sentenced to six months imprisonment by the apex court – a day after the Calcutta High Court judge “sentenced” the Chief Justice of India, and seven other judges, to five years of rigorous imprisonment.

But that was not all. Passing the judgement, the SC directed both print and electronic media to “restrain” from publishing Karnan’s statements, reported Live Law.

Also Read: Justice Karnan’s Jail Term: SC Says He Has to be Seen as a Citizen

'How Do We Report After Media Gag?’

The media fraternity was quick to question the gag order. Journalists Shekhar Gupta and Rajdeep Sardesai were among the many media personnel who questioned the gag order on Twitter.

In an earlier case in January, a SC bench had ruled against any pre-publication media restraint. In effect, the apex court noted that no complaint can be levelled against a telecast or publication before the content is made public.

‘What A Precedent’

The order did not find favour with a number of other Twitter users, who questioned the implications of the move.