Likelihood of losing objectivity in reportage of proceedings: Delhi High Court curbs law firm from blogging on case in which it is appearing

The Delhi High Court last week prohibited a law firm from carrying articles related to court proceedings it was involved in on its website/blog (Society for Tax Analysis and Research v. Union of India)..A Bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Talwant Singh observed in its order that such blog might not be objective in reporting court proceedings which was the case in the present matter. “We have also indicated to Mr. Aggarwal that ALA Legal cannot, and ought not, run the website/blog, in respect of the proceedings, which are being prosecuted by it, as there is every likelihood of losing objectivity in the reportage of proceedings; as was the case, in the instant matter,” the Court said. .The Court was informed by Additional Solicitor General N Venkatraman that a blog post concerning the previous proceedings in the matter, titled “A Summer of Relief for Taxpayers”, was published on https://gstlawindia.in, a website administered by ALA Legal. The ASG further pointed out that the blog post contained incorrect facts pertaining to court proceedings from an earlier date..Advocate Puneet Aggarwal of ALA Legal, who was representing the petitioners, informed the Court that the article will be removed, and that an unconditional apology will be tendered to the Court..While reprimanding the counsel, the Division Bench explained the rationale behind such restrictions. “Any slant in the reporting, which is not in line with the orders of the Court, leads to multifarious problems including the embarrassment that counsel appearing in the matter may encounter vis-a-vis their respective principals,” the Court said. .The main case was a plea seeking extension of statutory timelines provided under the Income Tax Act, 1961 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The petitioners had contended that the pandemic has debilitated them and others, making it difficult to comply with statutory obligations within the timelines provided under the Act..[Read Order]