3 to 4 judges COVID positive; please be sensitive: Bombay High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta appeals to media against sensationalism

Bombay High Court Chief Justice, Dipankar Datta appealed to the media on Thursday to be a more responsible while reporting court proceedings especially in view of the fact that COVID-19 crisis has impacted the Court, its judges and staff. .He requested media not to sensationalise remarks made in the passing by the Court while hearing cases relating to COVID-19 as many a time such comments are made out of anguish ."It is not the time for you to make sensational news and jack up the news. Sometimes we make comments out of anguish and despair. But to make headlines out of it to increase TRPs is not right," he said..In this regard, the Chief Justice said that three to four judges of Bombay High Court have tested positive for COVID-19 and some staff members have expired. "Three to four of our judges have tested positive, some staff has tested positive and passed away unfortunately. Please be sensitive. We are passing through a difficult time," he said..The Court was hearing a plea alleging improper management of COVID-19 crisis in Maharashtra..Out of context reporting of a certain remark by the Court was what prompted the CJ to appeal to the media to be more circumspect when reporting court hearings. "I am saying this in connection to a particular comment made in this case. It was made was to admonish the petitioner in this case and not to admonish a class," the Chief Justice said,.The Chief Justice on Thursday also reminded the reporters that they should not record the proceedings of the Court which are held via video conference. "Some correspondents had met me for hearing matters in the court no. 1 for public interest last year. I allowed on one condition - you may not record court proceedings. It is matter of regret, that this was not followed. We were surprised that correspondents had recorded whatever we said in court," he said.It is possible in near future, there may be live recording of court proceedings, but till then please behave responsibly and maturely, he added. .He, therefore, appealed to the media to refrain from sensationalising remarks made in the passing by the Court. "Please do appreciate that we are passing through a critical period," he reminded.