HC strongly warns police, media against discussing sub-judice cases
text_fields
Kochi: The High Court on Kerala issued a strict warning to police and media against discussing sub-judice cases before the judgment. Justice P V Kunhikrishnan, while allowing a bail plea of Jolly Thomas, the accused in the Koodathayi murder case, restrained the media and police from discussing investigation details of cases in the public.
The judge pointed out that an investigation officer cannot divulge any materials collected during the investigation to the public or media.
"Once a case involving the commission of a cognizable offence has been registered and the FIR forwarded to the Magistrate concerned, the matter is sub-judice and no police officer has the right to leak out information regarding the outcome of investigation until the final report is eventually filed before the court."
The judge warned that stringent actions will be taken by the court if the directions are violated either by the police officers or the media.
The judge also asked the mediapersons to read section 24 of the Evidence Act and other similar sections before framing headlines.
The court ordered to send a copy of the order to the Director General of Police so that if there is any violation of the court's direction, disciplinary action should be taken against him.
