HC raps magistrate for allowing journo in remand proceedings

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Tuesday deprecated a magistrate for allowing a top journalist to make submissions when the editor of a Tamil magazine was produced for remand recently. 

Tasking the magistrate to file a report on why and under what provisions of law he allowed former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, N Ram, to make submissions in the case, Justice Anand Venkatesh observed that court proceedings should revolve around law and facts of the case.  

The matter pertains to the arrest of Tamil magazine Nakkeeran's editor, R R Gopal in October and his release by XIII Metropolitan Magistrate, S Gopinathan.

The magistrate had rejected a police plea for remand, holding that there were no materials to do so.  

Gopal was arrested in connection with the publication of alleged derogatory contents against Governor Banwarilal Purohit in Nakkeeran. 

The judge, before whom a challenge petition of the Tamil Nadu government came up for hearing Tuesday, said court proceedings cannot be a platform for airing opinions.