Take remarks in right spirit, Supreme Court tells Election Commission

New Delhi, May 3

The Supreme Court today expressed its unwillingness to interfere with the Madras High Court’s comments that the Election Commission should probably be booked on murder charge for the worsening Covid situation, saying it didn’t want to demoralise high courts.

A Bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud said the media should be allowed to report oral observations made by courts as they “are a powerful watchdog in democracy”. Terming the demand for restraining the media from reporting observations made during court proceedings as “too far-fetched”, the Bench advised the poll panel to take the high court’s remarks in the right spirit.

Plea on media ‘too far-fetched’

• The SC termed as ‘too far-fetched’ the EC’s plea of restraining media from reporting remarks made during court proceedings
• Says media must be allowed to report oral observations by courts as it is a ‘powerful watchdog in democracy’

The Bench reserved its order on the EC’s plea challenging the April 30 order of Madras HC refusing to entertain its petition on the issue. The HC had rapped the poll panel for failing to ensure compliance of Covid protocol during the polls. “We have to make sure HC judges and chief justices are independent to take views. We have to make sure that the media reports everything that happens in court,” said the Bench. “The EC is a seasoned constitutional body meant to ensure free and fair elections. It has done a good job. It should not be rattled by the observations made,” it added. — TNS