SC disapproves Republic TV's reporting style: "We want a sense of assurance from you of responsibility"

New Delhi: Disapproving the reporting style of Republic TV, the Chief Justice of Inida SA Bobde on Monday made certain remarks against the channel's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.

"There has to responsibility in reporting. There are some areas one has to tread with caution. As a court, our important concern is peace and harmony in the society," CJI Bobde told Senior Advocate Harish Salve, who was representing Goswami.

"We want a sense of assurance from you of responsibility," the CJI said.

While hearing the special leave petition filed by the Maharashtra government against a Bombay High Court order which stayed the investigation against Goswami, CJI observed while the court acknowledges the importance of freedom of press, it cannot mean that a media person should not be asked questions.

"You can be a little old-fashioned with reporting. Frankly speaking, I cannot stand it. This has never been the level of our discourse," the bench told Salve.

Salve replied that he agreed with court's views but held that the present FIR is not genuine and not to be taken at face value.

The court adjourned the hearing for two weeks asking Goswami to file an affidavit stating what he proposed to do. Also, the court asked the state government to submit a list of FIRs registered against Goswami.