The Hindu : Karnataka News : Contempt proceedings against TV channels adjourned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 26, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Contempt proceedings against TV channels adjourned

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 25. A Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court comprising Justice A.M. Farooq and Justice B.S. Patil on Thursday adjourned to March 14 the contempt proceedings against Udaya TV and ETV for telecasting crime-based serials.

On January 12, the Bench ordered issue of bailable warrants against Udaya TV and ETV and the producers and directors of two crime-based serials on a contempt petition by an advocate from Bangalore.

The petitioner, A.V. Amarnathan, said Udaya was telecasting "Crime Story," produced and directed by Balakrishna Kakatkar, while ETV was telecasting "Crime Diary," produced and directed by Ravi Belegere. He said both the serials being telecast between 10 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. were investigating crimes and criminal incidents, recording the views of police officials and even interviewing the criminals, victims and next of victims.

In some cases, the serials were presenting the facts even before a First Information Report (FIR) is filed. Thus, persons were either being convicted or being let off in a trial by the media. These programmes prejudiced and interfered with the judicial proceedings. The petitioner said a Division Bench had permitted taking action against the media if they continued distorting the facts and presenting the cases before they were heard by the courts. He said the continued telecast of the serials constituted contempt of court.

Disposed

A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice, Nauvdip Kumar Sodhi, and Justice B. Padmaraj disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by a resident of Anegundi challenging the use of Harigols (country-made coracles) ferrying people across the Tungabhadra.

The petitioner, Lokesh, said pilgrims and visitors faced danger when they were being transported from Anegundi to Nava Brindavana across the Tungabhadra in a Harigol as they were not stable and could drown the people.

He said that on July 15, 2004, the Anegundi Town Panchayat permitted the use of Harigols.

He urged the court to quash the order and direct the authorities to permit only those boats certified by the Harbour and Shipping Department.

The Government submitted that instructions had already been issued to the Bellary Deputy Commissioner, the Zilla Panchayat and Town Panchayat to take steps to stop the use of Harigols.

Reduced

Justice Veerabhadraiah has reduced the jail term of a convict from five years to two years saying his continued incarceration could make him a schizophrenic.

Venkatesh alias Tiger Venkatesh, a coolie of Mysore, was booked on charges of assaulting an advocate. On November 11, 1998 he was jailed by a Mysore court for five years.

Before being jailed, Venkatesh had shown signs of schizophrenia when he had climbed a coconut tree and refused to come down for over 20 hours. He had come down only after cine actor Ambareesh coaxed him and paid him Rs. 500.

In his appeal, Venkatesh said his mental condition could deteriorate further in jail.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka