Two media organisations — Outlook and Open — facing Supreme Court notices on Rattan Tata’s petition on the publication of the transcript of Radia tapes, on Monday defended the “freedom of press” during the top court hearing, saying media has a right to report on any matter in the public interest against bad governance and corruption.
Senior advocates Anil Diwan and Rajiv Dhawan, appearing for Outlook and Open respectively before a bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Gantuly, questioned the very basis of Tata’s petition, saying it was nothing but “a private interest litigation” as no “public interest” was involved in his plea.
After hearing heated arguments from both sides, the bench in a brief order allowed Outlook and Open three weeks’ time to submit their replies affidavits while fixing further hearing in the crucial issue on February 2, 2011.
During high pitched arguments while Mr Diwan said that the “authenticity” of the Radia tapes had not been challenged by any one and Mr Tata in his petition had not made it clear as which part of published version had “infringed his right”, Mr Dhawan went a step further questioning even the “maintainability” of the petition of the top industrialist.