Kashmir Remark Row: Delhi Court Accepts Media's Apology For Incorrect Reporting Against Kerala MLA KT Jaleel, Advises Caution

Reminding the media of its "onerous duty of responsible reporting", a Delhi Court today accepted the apology tendered by various media persons for incorrect reporting about summoning of Kerala MLA K.T. Jaleel over his remarks made on Kashmir on social media platform Facebook a couple of months ago. 

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal of Rouse Avenue Courts, who was dealing with a complaint case filed by Advocate G.S. Mani, also requested the media persons to remain more careful in future.

"The court is satisfied with the submissions made at bar, the apology tendered by media persons qua incorrect reporting is hereby accepted," the Court noted.

The Judge this week had clarified that the Court had not summoned K.T. Jaleel and that the matter had not even reached the stage of summoning itself.

During the course of hearing today, Advocate Biju P. Raman filed an application for modification of the said order thereby praying that no individual responsibility be fixed upon the media persons who had been named in order.

"Submissions heard. Record perused. Be put up for orders on both the applications on 23.09.2022," the Court ordered.

On September 14, media persons from various newspapers were present before the Court including Matrabhumi News, 24 Twenty Four, The Malyalam Channel, Amrita Television, Asia Net News and MMTV Manorama News. They submitted that they would publish a corrigendum or apology for incorrect media reporting.

On September 6, an Action Taken Report was received from Delhi police submitting that a complaint was already submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police Cyber Cell Unit, Special Cell.

The ATR further submitted that a Session Court in Kerala's Pathanamthitta District had ordered the police to register a case against KT Jaleel over his controversial remarks on Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

It was also submitted that the Court in Pathanamthitta District's Thiruvalla had issued the direction while considering a petition moved by RSS leader Arun Mohan, seeking legal action against K.T. Jaleel for his anti-national remarks.

Case Title: G.S. Mani Vs. Commissioner of Police Delhi & Ors.