It also observed that democratic and constitutional institutions cannot flourish without freedom of press.

Responding to the petition for contempt proceedings against the Daily Manabzamin, the court said it would not issue any suo moto (contempt) rule. The press is free and the HC does not intend to interfere.

The Bangla tabloid in a report on Wednesday questioned qualifications and integrity of judges and accused them of political leanings.

Barrister Masud Reza Sobhan on behalf of Advocate Tasadduk Hasan filed the petition on Wednesday and the hearing took place yesterday.

The bench comprising Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Syed Muhammad Ziaul Karim said the judges should rather exercise more caution following newspaper reports questioning their honesty and efficiency. They should act to rid themselves of their shortcomings if there is any.

The report does not seem to have harmed the reputation of the judiciary, it added.

Referring to Justice Haque, one of the judges sitting on the bench yesterday, the counsel for the petitioner said his name too has been mentioned. In reply, the judge said, "so what?"

The HC bench observed that those named in the report should be more careful in future.

Barrister Sobhan said questioning integrity of the judges was tantamount to contempt of court. "If the newspaper doesn't face contempt charges, it will encourage the other journalists to write similar reports," he argued.

He also submitted that such report would give public an adverse impression about the higher judiciary. But the bench differed and said everyone has the right to write and it is necessary. The people will judge which is right and which is wrong, it added.