Madras HC directs media not to publish name of lawyers in court news
Published: Aug 26, 2016
By TIOLCORP News Service
NEW DELHI, AUG 26, 2016: IN a recent Judgment the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has come heavily on the practice adopted by lawyers to file flimsy cases only to hog publicity to attract more clients. The Court has directed the Registrar (Administration) to immediately circulate instructions to all Print, Electronic and Media Houses not to publish the names of the Lawyers appeared in the Case, as part of news item. The Bench also directed the Registrar (Administration) to request the Print, Electronic and Media House, not to publish the individual names of the Judges unless it is so essentially required.
The Bench comprising of Justices Nooty Ramamohana Rao and S.S. Sundar observed that it has been noticing that the Print and Electronic Media is carrying on publication of the names of legal practitioners as well as the names of the Judges of the High Court concerned, who dealt with particular cases, publication of names of practitioners who may have appeared for one party or the other in a particular case can lead to an indirect method of soliciting or indulging in advertisement of the professional abilities or skills of the advocates.
Regarding the second direction relating to the Publication of names of Judges, the Bench has observed that the names of the Judges should not be published and on the other hand, the name of the High Court alone should be published. The Bench has also directed the Registrar (Administration) to place this matter before the Chief Justice of Madras High Court, so that appropriate instructions can be issued in this regard the Chief Justice.
The judgment was passed while dismissing a public interest litigation filed by advocate S. Baskar Mathuram, associated with Puthiya Tamilagam party, seeking compensation for five Dalit children who were booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by Madurai District Police on August 7.
Observing that the lawyer had filed the case to gain publicity, the judges directed the Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court to take up the matter with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for initiating necessary action against him, preferably within six months, for breach of Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Since the lawyer had relied upon news reports to substantiate his claim of the Dalit children having been victimised, the Bench reminded the State Government of the need to put in place a policy decision to ensure that media, in the future, does not furnish any details capable of enabling the readers to identify juveniles in conflict with law.
