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When editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim, on Thursday, 13 December, appeared before Justice SR Sen who had sent a contempt notice to the leading daily in Meghalaya for publishing an article about a court order seeking perks and facilities for retired judges and their families, she was asked, “What is your qualification, ma’am, to write about judges?”
In her article titled ‘When judges judge for themselves’, published earlier this week, Mukhim alleged that Justice Sen, who is retiring in March, wanted several provisions for retired chief justices and judges and their spouses and children from the state government, including guest houses, domestic help, mobile and internet expenses.
Both Mukhim and Chaudhuri were issued a show cause notice by Justice Sen on Wednesday, 12 December, seeking explanation as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against the newspaper for publishing the article.
“It is really shocking that the publisher and editor of the said newspaper without knowing the law or background of the case are making comments which are definitely derogatory to a judge who is handling the case as well as the entire fraternity of the judges,” Justice Sen said, adding that the media had no business to comment on a matter pending in court.
While speaking to The Quint, Mukhim said:
She also noted that provisions for perks and facilities for retired judges and their families should be taken up by registrar general of Meghalaya High Court with the state government of Meghalaya.
The Editors Guild of India, on Sunday, 16 December, said contempt notices such as these “are regrettable and will be seen as judicial intimidation of the media.”
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