The Supreme Court administration has warned that publishing or disseminating false, misleading or untrue news about the Bangladesh Supreme Court may result in legal action for contempt of court against the individuals or institutions concerned.
The warning was issued in a notification signed by Supreme Court Registrar General Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiqui on Monday.
The notification said that certain media outlets, including television channels, recently published reports claiming that a senior judge of the Appellate Division and a judge of the High Court Division had gone on leave in protest over the appointment of the chief justice allegedly in violation of seniority. The Supreme Court termed these reports completely false, misleading and unfortunate.
According to the notification, the circulation of such misinformation creates public misconceptions about the country’s highest court and undermines its dignity and image. Disseminating false or misleading information about the Supreme Court also amounts to contempt of court.
The registrar general noted that such situations could have been avoided had the media verified the accuracy of the information with the Supreme Court Registry before publication or broadcast.
Clarifying the matter, the notification said Appellate Division Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam is on leave due to his mother’s illness, while High Court Division Justice Farid Ahmed is temporarily unable to hear cases because of his own illness. These matters are unrelated to the reports circulated in the media.
In this context, all media professionals have been instructed to verify the objectivity and authenticity of any news related to the Supreme Court with the Office of the Registrar General before publication or broadcast. The administration warned that any future dissemination of false or misleading information about the Supreme Court will invite legal consequences under contempt of court.