HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY THE REGISTRAR (JUDICIAL), BANGALORE Vs. SRI. R.J. PRAKASHAN PUBLISHER, BANGALORE MIRROR, NO. 4 PAMPA MAHAKAVI ROAD, CHAMARAJPET, BANGALORE - 560018 AND SRI. B. MAHESH RESIDENT EDITOR, BANGALORE MIRROR, NO.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) SUO -motu contempt proceedings has been initiated against the accused persons in the light of the order dated 10.09.2012 of a learned Judge of this Court observing that the manner of reporting court proceedings particularly, the proceeding before a Division Bench, of which the learned Judge was also a member in MFA 9783/2011, a matter arising under the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, a matrimonial dispute between a differing couple and captions given to the news item, is not only misleading to the actual proceedings that has taken place in the court, but virtually was like distorting the proceedings and tarnishing the image of the judiciary scandalizing or lowering the authority of this Court and virtually amounts to interfering with the administration of justice and therefore, action was warranted in the exercise of contempt jurisdiction of this Court and under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act. Notice had been issued to the accused persons and they had appeared before this Court on 18.10.2012 represented by Counsel Sri. Ramesh and the said counsel had sought for time to place their version before the Court.

(2.) ACCUSED are present before the court today.

(3.) STATEMENT of objections on behalf of the accused persons supported by the affidavit of Sri. R.J. Prakasham, the first accused who is the Printer and the Publisher of the publication and the second accused Sri. B. Mahesh, Editor of the Bangalore Mirror Daily newspaper representing on behalf of its proprietor, are placed before the court.