A vibrant and independent press is essential to democracy, but freedom of speech and expression cannot be a license for persons "armed with half baked facts" and "little or no knowledge of judiciary" to "abuse" the justice delivery system, the Kerala High Court said on Monday referring to the media attention generated by the anticipatory bail plea of actor Dileep.
While granting anticipatory bail to the actor and the others who are accused of threatening the officers investigating the 2017 actress assault case and allegedly conspiring to eliminate them, the court said that mainstream television media and social media have commented upon the way the proceedings were conducted in the instant case.
"Observations made in Court during the course of hearing have been dissected and made subject matter of intense discussion," Justice Gopinath P observed.
The court further said, "The existence of a vibrant, independent and free press is no doubt essential to democracy.
"The constitutional Courts in this country have been zealous to protect the freedom of speech and expression but this cannot be a license for persons armed with half baked facts with little or no knowledge of how the judiciary functions and little or no knowledge of the fundamental legal principles that govern it, abuse the justice delivery system," the court said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Wayanad Landslides: Kerala High Court Wants 'Holistic Approach' In Development Fake Child Abuse Charges In Marital Cases Have Serious Consequences: Kerala High Court Prohibition of Child Marriage Act For All Irrespective Of Religion: Kerala High Court Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Raped, Tear Gas Fired 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court "Want To Ask Congress...": Mamata Banerjee Snaps At Ally In Rape-Murder Case Professor 'Digitally Arrested' For 12 Days By Scammers, Loses Rs 12 Lakh Independence Day 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi To Address Nation From Red Fort PM Modi To Address Nation From Red Fort On 78th Independence Day Today Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.