In a significant rebuke to major newspapers, the Gujarat High Court on Thursday mandated that the Times of India (ToI) and Indian Express issue front-page apologies for incorrectly reporting the court’s observations.
The directive came from a bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi, who expressed dissatisfaction with the initial apologies submitted by the newspapers. The justices criticized these as conditional and insufficient, demanding an unequivocal public acknowledgment of the reporting errors.
Chief Justice Agarwal was forthright in her criticism. “We are seeking a public apology that acknowledges the reporting mistakes clearly and ensures such errors are not repeated,” she stated during the proceedings. The apology must appear in bold on the front page’s middle column, emphasizing the gravity of the misinformation.
The controversy stems from an earlier incident where the newspapers allegedly provided a “false and distorted narration” of the court’s stance on the rights of aided minority institutions. This misreporting prompted the court’s stern response, highlighting the impact such coverage can have on public perception and legal proceedings.
“If the inaccurate portrayals are presented in this manner, it complicates matters for everyone involved, including advocates,” remarked the Chief Justice, suggesting that the erroneous reports were a coordinated effort among the publications.
In addition to the apologies, the court has issued a contempt notice to Divya Bhaskar for failing to represent itself and address the allegations. The newspaper has been given a two-day deadline to respond.
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Legal representatives from the newspapers, including Senior Advocate Devang Nanvati for ToI and Advocate SP Majmudar for Indian Express, attended the hearing, facing stringent scrutiny over the journalistic practices employed in their reporting.
