SC cautions media on Aarushi murder case reporting

July 23, 2008 21:58 IST
MICS-India By shekhar Kulshreshtha

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the media to exercise caution in reporting or telecasting matters relating to the sensational twin murder involving teenager Aarushi and her domestic help Hemraj.

A bench of Justice Altamas Kabir and Markandeya Katju directed that the media should report the issue with objectivity so as not to cause any prejudice to the reputation of the teenager's family and friends.

The bench order came while posting for August 18, a public interest petition filed by Surat Singh, a practising advocate, seeking a series of directions to protect the reputation of the Aarushi Talwar's family.

Singh alleged the family's reputation has been maligned by the media and the police and sought action against the investigators keeping the teenager's father in custody for 50 days before declaring him innocent.

Besides the Union Home Ministry, Ministry of Law and Justice, Information& Broadcasting Ministry, Central Bureau of Investigation, and the Uttar Pradesh police, the public interest litigation has arrayed media organisations, including newspapers and TV channels, as respondents before the court.