SC to clarify notice for the media

The Supreme Court will soon clarify a notice issued by the SC administration that requested print and electronic media to refrain from reporting on ongoing cases at the court, Law Minister Anisul Huq said yesterday.

“Discussion is going on among them [SC judges] about the notice and the Supreme Court will very soon give a clarification on it and therefore, misunderstandings will be removed,” he said while talking to reporters after meeting with Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain at the latter’s SC office.

The minister said he met the chief justice as he does routinely and discussed the notice, among other issues. On Thursday, the SC administration issued the notice asking print and electronic media to refrain from reporting on ongoing cases at the court.

Md Golam Rabbani, registrar of the SC’s High Court Division, signed the notice saying, “It has been noticed recently that some electronic and print media are giving scrolls or publishing news on ongoing cases, which is absolutely unexpected.

“Under the circumstances, it is being requested, upon orders, that all concerned refrain from publishing news or put up scrolls about ongoing cases,” the notice read.

Soon after the notice was issued, Law Reporters Forum, a platform of reporters who cover law, human rights, and constitutional issues, said they were saddened and shocked by the notice.

Editors Guild, Bangladesh, has also urged the SC Secretariat to clarify its instructions for the media.

On Sunday, Anisul told reporters at his secretariat office that there is no bar to reporting on ongoing cases but reporters cannot give personal opinions about the cases.

“In my opinion, the notice issued by the Supreme Court authorities has not given any directive to stop reporting on ongoing cases. If you [reporters] come up with opinions about the ongoing cases, that will be a media trial and therefore, the learned judges concerned might feel pressured,” he said.