Supreme Court Upholds Media's Role in Democracy

May 11, 2025

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court favored a robust debate in the media on court-related issues and stressed the importance of media and judiciary as pillars of democracy. The court overturned Delhi High Court's order to take down a Wikipedia page on a defamation case. It stated that media's criticism in sub judice cases can keep judicial caprice in check. The court emphasized that judges cannot respond to criticism unless it scandalizes the court or judges, leading to contempt. The bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan highlighted that public scrutiny builds confidence in the justice system's fairness and impartiality. The court also mentioned the recent Imran Pratapgarhi case, underscoring the duty of courts to uphold freedom of speech and expression. It stressed the need for a robust debate on court-related issues for the improvement of the judiciary. Both media and judiciary are crucial for democracy to thrive, the court said.

Tags: Supreme court, Media, Contempt of court, Freedom of speech, Democracy,