Bombay High Court: The ban on media reporting of the trial of the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case ordered by the special CBI Court was cancelled by the Bench of Justice Revati Mohite-Dere. “Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, which is the purpose of an open court,” the Court said, adding, “People are entitled to know whether the justice delivery system is adequate.”
Journalists from leading newspapers, online media outlets and television channels in Mumbai had gone to the High Court against the ban on any reporting on the case. They said it is the fundamental right of journalists to report and the basic right of every citizen to be informed. The Court noted that the special CBI court had overreached its powers with the ban order issued in November observing “Mere apprehension of sensationalism by the accused is not sufficient ground for such gag orders”. [Sunil Baghel v. State of Maharashtra, Crl. Pet. No. 5434 of 2017, order dated 24.1.2018]