PIL filed based on newspaper reports rejected

The first bench comprising acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and Justice R M T Teeka Raman before whom the plea came up dismissed it after holding that no judicial notice can be taken based on mere newspaper report. 

The bench held that “At the outset we would like to hold that no judicial notice can possibly be taken of the newspaper reports in the absence of the maker of the statement appearing in Court and deposing to have perceived the facts reported. This principle of Law has been laid by Apex Court and has been reiterated in a catena of decisions rendered thereafter”. 

“Moreover, before entertaining a PIL the Court has to be satisfied about the credentials of the petitioner, the Prima facie correctness or nature of information given by him, the information being not vague and indefinite as held by Supreme Court. In the case on hand this court cannot take judicial notice of the newspaper reports and the grounds urged are certainly vague and indefinite”, the bench added. 

The petitioner A G Narasimhan, an advocate, had contended that the police officials are borrowing and lending money without obtaining prior sanction from the Government and also conducting illegal acts of ‘Katta Panchayat’ and ‘Kangaroo Courts’.