04-03-2007, 07:36 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>SC rejects NBA plea to gag media </b>Â <!--emo&
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Pioneer.com
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
The Supreme Court has rebuffed Medha Patkar's plea to gag the press from reporting against the activities of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA).
The apex court on Monday declined to pass any order on a Patkar-led NBA's plea to restrain an NGO, which has filed a PIL accusing NBA of receiving foreign funds, from approaching the media with issues connected with the matter.
<b>"Why are you (NBA) bothered about press reports. You just ignore it," </b>Â <!--emo&:bhappy--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/b_woot.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='b_woot.gif' /><!--endemo--> a Bench comprising Justices CK Thakker and Altamas Kabir said when NBA's counsel Indra Jaisinh objected to some of the recent news reports relating to the pending PIL filed by VK Saxena, president of the Ahmedababd-based National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL).
Jaisinh, who at the outset made oral plea for restraining the NCCL from approaching the media, said the people in remote areas and villages would pre-judge the issue and it would be prejudice to NBA.
The NBA's contention was opposed by the NCCL's counsel Amar Dave, who said it was the anti-dam outfit which has been approaching the media with press notes on regular basis and cited one such release issued by it about the court proceedings.
However, when NBA alleged that the whole atmosphere was vitiated by such media campaign, the court said media cannot be stopped from reporting and observed "can it pass an order which cannot be implemented".
Jaisinh said the issue relating to Narmada project covers three States of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and NBA should be given the opportunity to counter the news reports when it happens to be sustained campaign against the organisation.
"You can counter it. You file an application alleging that so and so have gone to the press. We will decide...," the Bench said. Jaisinh, however, said she would not prefer to file application or affidavit as she knows that it would be difficult to sustain the allegations.
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--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> Pioneer.com
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
The Supreme Court has rebuffed Medha Patkar's plea to gag the press from reporting against the activities of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA).
The apex court on Monday declined to pass any order on a Patkar-led NBA's plea to restrain an NGO, which has filed a PIL accusing NBA of receiving foreign funds, from approaching the media with issues connected with the matter.
<b>"Why are you (NBA) bothered about press reports. You just ignore it," </b>Â <!--emo&:bhappy--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/b_woot.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='b_woot.gif' /><!--endemo--> a Bench comprising Justices CK Thakker and Altamas Kabir said when NBA's counsel Indra Jaisinh objected to some of the recent news reports relating to the pending PIL filed by VK Saxena, president of the Ahmedababd-based National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL).
Jaisinh, who at the outset made oral plea for restraining the NCCL from approaching the media, said the people in remote areas and villages would pre-judge the issue and it would be prejudice to NBA.
The NBA's contention was opposed by the NCCL's counsel Amar Dave, who said it was the anti-dam outfit which has been approaching the media with press notes on regular basis and cited one such release issued by it about the court proceedings.
However, when NBA alleged that the whole atmosphere was vitiated by such media campaign, the court said media cannot be stopped from reporting and observed "can it pass an order which cannot be implemented".
Jaisinh said the issue relating to Narmada project covers three States of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and NBA should be given the opportunity to counter the news reports when it happens to be sustained campaign against the organisation.
"You can counter it. You file an application alleging that so and so have gone to the press. We will decide...," the Bench said. Jaisinh, however, said she would not prefer to file application or affidavit as she knows that it would be difficult to sustain the allegations.
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