The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Court says `no' to TV channels

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Saturday, Feb 12, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Court says `no' to TV channels

By Our Legal Correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB.11. The High Court has denied permission to three private news channels which sought permission to interview `Suri,' presently serving a life sentence in Cherlapally jail and whose name figures as main accused in the case of murder of the TDP MLA, Paritala Ravindra. They have been permitted to renew their request after the chargesheet is filed in the case.

Justice L. Narasimha Reddy on Friday was disposing of three separate writ petitions filed by TV9, ETV and Teja TV. The petitioners contended that they had a right to inform the public about the views of Maddela Cheruvu Suryanarayana Reddy alias Suri. They complained that the authorities were not permitting them to interview Suri. After the recent killing of Ravindra, the name of Suri was mentioned by the persons who surrendered before the police and who gave interviews to TV channels claiming that they killed the TDP MLA at the behest of Suri.

The police informed the court that the case was with the CBI and the investigation was at a primary stage and interference by the media and journalists would have a negative impact.

Mr. Justice Narasimha Reddy delivered a 15-page comprehensive judgment about the right of the press and the duty of restraint. He said the person who was sought to be interviewed was serving life sentence and was accused in the present case. The Judge said the accused had a right to be silent and when the State could not infringe this right the press could not be allowed to invade the same.

Realm of press freedom

The court said even if it was assumed that the life convict had a right as any other citizen to propagate his views, he was not before the court and the present case was regarding the realm of freedom of the press only.

The Judge took note of the fact that surprisingly one after the other persons came forward owning up their complicity in the crime. "An average man gathers a feeling that a concerted attempt is being made to divert the attention of the prosecution as well as the public and to cover the real culprits," said the Judge. The court further said: "Any step, which is likely to divert its attention or otherwise interfere with it, may complicate the issues and make the investigation to deviate from the correct line."

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