[Coronavirus] Karnataka HC urges local TV news channels and electronic media platforms to avoid misquoting or misinterpreting Court orders

The Karnataka High Court has urged local news channels and electronic media platforms to be extremely careful and diligent while reporting on the Court orders, especially with regard to sensitive issues pertaining to COVID-19..The Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice BV Nagarathna opined that if the orders of the High Court are misquoted, then the same might instil panic in the minds of people.."The media must ensure that no part of the stand taken by the State Government or no part of the orders passed by this Court should be misinterpreted or misquoted. The electronic media must note that if there is no accurate reporting of the proceedings before the Court, the stand of the State Government and other agencies before the Court and the orders passed by this Court, it may create confusion amongst the citizens and may spread panic. The cause of confusion and panic can be misrepresentation of the orders of this Court by the media."Karnataka High Court.The issue arose when a part of the state's submissions during the previous hearing was misinterpreted by the media. The Court had previously asked the state to come out with its response on the aspect of preparedness of dealing with COVID-19. Subsequently, the state government responded by pointing out the kind of infrastructure that would be required for dealing with 10,000 COVID-19 patients..However, various local media channels misconstrued this submission and reported that the state expects 10,000 more COVID-19 cases in Karnataka by the end of April..On this point, the Court stated, "We clarify that what is stated in the written submissions which is recorded in paragraph 20 of the order dated 9th April, 2020 does not mean that according to the State Government, the number of COVID-19 positive cases will rise to 10,000 by the end of April, 2020.".The Additional Advocate General appearing on behalf of the state pointed out that reporting only a part of the proceedings may also create confusion and panic among the common people..In light of these observations, the Court advised media channels to refrain from misinterpreting or misquoting the Court's orders. [Read Judgment here]