SC stays Gujarat HC order seeking fresh apology from TOI, Express for ‘false’ court reporting

The Supreme Court stayed a Gujarat High Court order requiring Times of India, Indian Express, and Divya Bhaskar to issue a fresh apology for alleged incorrect reporting of court proceedings, Bar and Bench reported.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan issued a notice to stay the order on an appeal filed by TOI. The matter pertains to the “false and distorted narration” of court proceedings in a matter relating to the rights of aided minority institutions.

The Gujarat High Court had observed that the newspaper reports gave a false impression that the comments made during the hearing were its final views. Subsequently, the newspapers published an apology on August 23.

But the high court rejected the apology on September 2, saying that it was an ‘eyewash’ and not in bold letters or prominently placed. It then granted them time till September 5 to issue a fresh apology. But the top court has now said, “Issue notice, stay on the impugned order. We clarify that the writ proceedings can continue.”

Earlier, the Gujarat High Court had issued a notice to regional editors on August 13, seeking an explanation for the alleged false reporting. The newspapers had first tendered their apology in their affidavits before the court.

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