Reports on SC: Journos need to bear great responsibility

The High Court yesterday expressed hope that journalists would bear great responsibility while preparing and publishing reports on Supreme Court proceedings.

“This holds most true for those burdened with the task of delivering news to the public. Being the mouthpiece of the agents of society and state, we hold journalists in high esteem and thus expect them to also bear great responsibility. Such responsibility must entail, reflecting the whole truth, as opposed to simply highlighting fractions of it,” said an HC bench.

The bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Mohammad Ali came up with the observation while passing an order on a writ petition.

Earlier in the day, SC lawyer Shahinur Rahman filed the petition seeking necessary order on the issue.

He submitted the petition as some “online newspapers” published reports on August 2 “misquoting” an observation made by another HC bench on July 31 about the importance of people’s lives and the protocol for VIPs.

The court also directed the authorities to continue providing privileges (protocol) without fail to those who are supposed to get such privileges as per the warrant of precedence.

“… the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police and other concerned in the metropolitan cities and all other townships have been directed to provide the requisite privileges by virtue of the constitution, warrant of precedence and the laws of this land,” the bench led by Justice Obaidul Hassan said in the order.

The court said, “It is important to remind everyone that when the justices of the courts think aloud and speak their thoughts; it is risky to take their words in that situation as being the ultimate version.

“In the case at hand, the words of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader had been taken out of context and has thus gone on to create confusion in numerous cases.

“In the future, it is imperative that people not jump to conclusions simply based on the word uttered by the court without having gone through the final judgment, where the court is allowed time to reflect and properly articulate its intentions and thoughts.”

The HC bench continued, “Though we are addressed as ‘My Lords’ in our courtrooms, it is imperative that we all remember that the justices of this esteemed court are still humans. We are not infallible. In shouldering the burdens of our duties, we are sensible enough to recognise that we may sometimes not be able to articulate our thoughts with perfection. We are thus, often hopeful, that such instances are viewed with a degree of indulgence by those who understand the work that we do.

“Having said so, it is important to recognise that while we do speak our thoughts in court; sometimes it may be taken out of context and it may be so that some fail to understand the message that we intend to convey. And so, it is important to wait for the final pronouncement of our judgements to truly understand or grasp what it is that we, as justice, intend to relay.”

During hearing another writ petition filed over the death of 13-year-old Titash Ghosh, the HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader on July 31 made an observation about the importance of people’s lives and security of the president and the prime minister.

Family sources said Titash died in an ambulance as the ferry, which was going to Dhaka, delayed loading vehicles for three hours to wait for the arrival of a government official.

The bench had observed that government officials are merely the servants of the republic, and they are not “very important persons” (VIPs).

Only the president and the prime minister of the country are the VVIPs (very, very important persons), and security issues are involved with regard to their movements, said the bench.

But some media on August 2 allegedly published reports misquoting the HC observation following which lawyer Shahinur yesterday submitted the petition before the HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Mohammad Ali.

In the petition, the lawyer said different “online newspapers” -- The Bangladesh Today, Dhaka Tribune Bangla, Awaz BD, Barishal Times, Channel24, Purbopashchimbd.news and 24 Live Newspaper -- have published reports on the issue which are absolutely derogatory and disrespectful to the honour and dignity of the SC.          

He prayed to the HC to order the government to make the electronic and print media refrain from circulating and publishing the news regarding protocol of the SC judges.

Ekramul Haque Tutul, Syed Mamun Mahbub and Tapas Kumar Biswas appeared for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state.