Hyderabad: Justice M. Laxman of the Telangana High Court, who granted anticipatory bail to Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, expressed deep anguish at the derogatory remarks against him by participants in TV debates in some Telugu electronic media channels.
Taking a serious view of the remarks of one participant (a suspended judge) that “moneybags went to the judge’ (referring to Justice Laxman) and derogatory comments by another participant in the debates aired by Maha News and ABN TV on May 26, Justice Laxman felt that such actions clearly amount to invocation of proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act. He directed the High Court Registry to place the records of the said debates before the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court for further action.
Noting that such actions and remarks would damage institutional credibility, he said that he was leaving it open to the head of the media house on whether to take or not to take action against them. Further, he said that he was contemplating recuse from hearing the case but being duty-bound he changed his mind.
“Certain attempts were made by select media to thwart and derail judicial processes by making attempts to tarnish my image and intimidate and threaten to derail independent thought processes in arriving at a just decision in this matter. The individuals of selective media facilitated and abetted by airing views of selective personnel of their choice with conscious knowledge of their antecedents to intimidate, to threaten and to damage my reputation by personal attack”, Justice Laxman stated in the order copy.
Further, the judge said that he has the greatest regard to the press and news media, which, as the fourth estate, is the forerunner in preserving democracy.
“They have every right to express their opinion touching merits of any decision which is essential in a rightful democracy. But, the reputation of such an important institution is eroding because of some individuals” said Justice Laxman expressing his dismay.
