Politics · India Bureau
Madras High Court restricts media coverage of Veeramani POCSO case details
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan has directed media outlets to refrain from discussing the factual matrix of the high-profile case. The court has simultaneously ordered the all-women Special Investigation Team to issue weekly progress updates to maintain public transparency.
LSN India ·
The Madras High Court has imposed restrictions on media coverage of the Veeramani Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case, directing news organisations not to discuss the factual details of the proceedings. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan issued the directive while hearing the case, balancing the need for responsible reporting with public interest in the matter.
To ensure the public remains informed about investigative developments, the court has mandated that the all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT) handling the case issue weekly press releases. These official updates are intended to provide regular information about the case's progress to the general public through appropriate channels.
The order underscores the court's concern about prejudicial media coverage that could potentially compromise the investigation or influence public perception before the case concludes. By restricting detailed factual discussions while mandating official progress updates, the bench has attempted to strike a balance between press freedom and the integrity of judicial proceedings.
The directive applies to all media outlets covering the case and establishes the SIT's weekly bulletins as the primary source for public information regarding the investigation. This approach aims to prevent speculation and ensure accurate, authorised information reaches the public sphere.