SC warns media against false reports

FE REPORT

The Supreme Court administration on Monday issued a notification warning that any individual or organisation publishing false, misleading, or untrue news about the Supreme Court will be held liable for contempt of court.

The notification, issued by Supreme Court Registrar General Mohammad Habibur Rahman Siddiquee, also instructed all media professionals to verify the objectivity and authenticity of any news related to the Supreme Court with the court's designated media focal person or the office of the registrar general prior to publication or broadcast.

It said that recently, various media outlets published erroneous news claiming that a senior Appellate

Division judge went on leave due to the Chief Justice's appointment violating seniority, and that a High Court Division judge went on leave due to not being assigned to a bench.

"Such reports are entirely false, misleading, and deeply regrettable," the notification says.

"The dissemination of such false and misleading news in the media creates misconceptions in the public mind about the country's highest court and undermines the dignity and image of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Moreover, the publication and broadcast of untrue and misleading information concerning the country's highest court amount to contempt of court. Had the media professionals concerned verified the accuracy of the news with the Supreme Court Registry prior to publication or broadcast, such an undesirable situation would not have arisen," it added.

"It is pertinent to mention that Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam of the Appellate Division has availed leave due to his mother's illness, and Justice Farid Ahmed of the High Court Division is temporarily unable to participate in judicial functions as he has been hospitalised due to illness. These matters have no connection whatsoever with the news circulated in the media," according to the notification.

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