In a suo motu action, the Madras High Court today ordered issue of contempt notice to Tamil edition of "The Hindu" over an article published by the daily on July 13 over its observations made during the hearing of a habeas corpus petition.
Holding that there was prima facie material to treat it as contempt committed by the newspaper, a bench, comprising Justice S Tamilvanan and Justice C.T. Selvam, ordered the Registry to issue contempt notice to N Ram, the Publisher, and N Ravi, the Editor-in-Chief, of the daily returnable by four weeks.
"Having gone through the report and the interview published in 'The Hindu-Tamil edition' dated 13/07/2015, we are of the view that there are prima facie material to treat the same as contempt committed by the newspaper," it said.
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The article was published with regard to certain observations by the bench during the hearing of the habeas corpus petition filed by the husband of one Pavithra who allegedly eloped with one Shameel Ahmed of Ambur.
The article had views of five persons on the observations made by the court, which was treated as contempt by the bench.
In its order, the bench said "we are of the view that it is the mischief committed by the newspaper misguiding the people.
"We are respecting all the persons, especially woman attending the Court. It is seen that the interview given by certain persons would show, as if the Courts are not respecting woman, which is totally false and irresponsible statement against Courts," the bench said.
