Thanthi TV records Jaya’s bail arguments in Supreme Court, All India Bar Association seeks suo moto action

In what can potentially snowball into a major controversy, a Tamil news channel, Thanthi Television, has recorded and telecast Supreme Court proceedings in the bail application of Jayalalithaa which was heard on October 17..The All India Bar Association (AIBA) has now written to the Supreme Court Registrar General, Ravindra Maithan, seeking initiation of suo moto contempt proceedings against “all concerned who are responsible for its recording and telecast.”.The letter written by Senior Advocate and Chairman of AIBA, Adish C Aggarwala, states the following:.“We want to bring the following facts to your notice with a request to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against “Thanthi” television for telecasting on 18.10.2014, the arguments of Mr. Fali Nariman in Jayalalitha bail matter in Supreme Court..It is inappropriate and contemptuous to record and telecast court proceedings. The telecast of Mr. Fali Nariman’s arguments in Jayalalitha bail matter in Supreme Court by Thanthi Television on 18.10.2014, is contemptuous and the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India should take stern action of contempt of Court against all concerned who are responsible for its recording and telecast..Although the All India Bar Association strongly advocates media freedom and freedom of expression, including the recording and telecast of court proceedings, it should not be done unless the court procedure permits the same..It is therefore humbly prayed that suo-moto contempt of court proceedings be initiated against all concerned.”.It is not clear how the channel managed to record the court proceedings since only lawyers are allowed to take mobile phones and other electronic devices into the court rooms of the Supreme Court..The rationale behind this arrangement has been questioned many a time. Aside from the fact that wearing a gown means escaping frisking by security officials and the luxury to take cell phones into the court rooms, some lawyers “help” litigants and visitors by taking their cell phones into the court room and then handing it over to them once they are inside – an effective way to hoodwink the security personnel posted outside the court room..Further, this incident has happened at a time when another larger debate is raging – whether to permit recording of court proceedings or not..Image taken from here.