Taking exception to certain remarks of then city police commissioner on kidnapping of a businessman's son in 2010, the Madras High Court today said preservation of confidentiality of sensitive information is absolutely necessary.
A division bench comprising Justices S Nagamuthu and Bharatidasan also sounded a note of caution to the media, asking it to think twice before reporting any information with regard to a matter under investigation.
The court made the observations while dismissing an appeal by two convicts, challenging the life imprisonment awarded to them by a trial court in Chengalpattu in the case.
The bench found fault with a press meet held by the then commissioner of police and said, "The case on hand is a classic example as to how the press conference held by him and making statement on the basis of misinformation had caused unnecessary hardship for the prosecution at the time of trial."
It noted that the police official had told reporters that ransom paid was Rs 98.73 lakh when the father himself had categorically stated it was Rs one crore.
It said the statement was incorrect based on hearsay information, that too on misinformation. Also there was some contradiction about presence of police personnel at the time of handing over of ransom, it said.
Referring to transparency of information, the bench noted that Parliament which had passed the Right to Information Act, had cautioned that revelation of some information in actual practice is likely to conflict with other public interests.
"Preservation of confidentiality of sensitive information is also absolutely necessary," it said.
"We respect the freedom of the press. We only request the print and the electronic media to think twice before reporting any information in connection with a matter under investigation by police to ensure such reporting does not impede investigation in any manner," the bench said.
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