The Supreme Court today reserved its judgement on the issue of framing guidelines for reporting court proceedings after 17 days of hearing which started on March 27. Some noted jurists termed the endeavour as judicial over-reach which will open the flood gates with a whole range of complications. A five-judge constitution bench was told that the apex court did not have inherent powers to lay the guidelines on the issue which falls in the domain of legislature.

At best the judiciary can come out with normative and not mandatory or exhaustive guidelines as it would clash with the fundamental rights of the scribes. However, the bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia, which was facing opposition from noted jurists, Fali Nariman and Soli Sorabjee, wanted to know if they can come out with some principles on regulating the media. The bench got a negative reply from Nariman who said that the apex court can't do it.