New Delhi: The Supreme Court reprimanded a plea by the Election Commission seeking an order to refrain media from reporting the Madras High Court remark against the Commission.
The court also urged the Constitutional authorities to abstain from making complaints and seeking fetters on the media.
Meanwhile, the top court also found the Madras High Court's remark inappropriate and sought judicial restraint for off the cuff remarks, which it said are open to misinterpretation.
The Madras High Court wanted to hold the Election Commission accountable for the COVID spread for an easy-going mindset in allowing the political parties to hold rallies that pulled huge crowds. The HC even remarked that the Election Commission should be tried for murder for their negligence.
The Apex Court, however, found this the HC statement "harsh and the metaphor improper". The Supreme Court also reminded the importance of proper judicial language in maintaining the constitutional ethos, citing judicial review's high impact.
At the same, the High Court was also concerned for the number of cases and deaths, the task of protecting the lives and liberty of people, the court said.
"Open access to courts is a valuable safeguard to constitutional freedom. Freedom of the press is a facet of constitutional freedom of speech and expression," said the Supreme Court.