The Hindu : Contempt case hearing adjourned to April 10

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Contempt case hearing adjourned to April 10

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE MARCH 27. A full Bench of the Karnataka High Court, which is conducting the criminal contempt-of-court proceedings with regard to the "Mysore resort episode" against 11 publications, on Thursday, adjourned the proceedings to April 10.

The proceedings were adjourned after counsel for the respondent publications submitted that several special leave petitions (SLPs), filed by the publications challenging the March 17 order of the High Court, had come up before the Supreme Court.

On March 17, the full Bench decided to frame charges against the publications after being satisfied prima facie that they had committed criminal contempt of court by publishing reports on the ``episode'' involving three judges of the High Court.

The court framed charges against the respondents on the same day and adjourned the proceedings to March 27 to conduct trial.

S. Ramadas, counsel for Deccan Herald and S. Vijayashankar, counsel for The New Indian Express, filed applications seeking adjournment of the proceedings.

Regarding the application of the Registrar-General to split the case and hold separate trials for each publication, counsel submitted that this would unnecessarily drag the proceedings.

G.S. Vishweshwara, appearing for the Registrar-General, pleaded for a separate trial, taking recourse to the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr. PC).He said a joint trial could be held if the respondents made an application to that effect as provided in the Cr. PC, to which the respondents agreed.

SC hearing today

UNI reports from New Delhi:

The Supreme Court today put off till tomorrow the hearing on the Karnataka High Court order against 11 newspaper establishments.

The court gave the order on a batch of SLPs and appeals against the Karnataka High Court order framing charges under the Contempt of Court Act against the newspapers.

The hearing was adjourned by a five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by the Chief Justice, V.N. Khare.

When senior counsel, Anil Divan, appearing for one of the newspapers, drew the court's attention that the High Court was to commence the trial today, the Chief Justice said, ``the trial would go on. How does it matter? We'll hear the case tomorrow.''

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