LAW FIRM SHOULD NOT REPORT ONGOING PROCEEDINGS, BEING PROSECUTED BY IT, ON ITS WEBSITE - DELHI HC

A division bench of Delhi HC said that Law firms could not run a blog or details of a proceeding, which is being prosecuted by it, as it may lose objectivity in the reporting of the proceeding. In other words, such reporting may cause diverse problems which may have an impact on the proceeding. 

Justices Rajiv Shakdher and Talwant Singh were hearing a petition filed by Society for Tax Analysis and Research seeking direction to direct the Central Government to extend tax dues dates. Meanwhile, a law firm, ALA legal, who is prosecuting the case, published an article on the same, titled "A summer relief for the Taxpayers". 

Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman raised the concern by pointing out that the Law firm had incorrectly reported the proceeding in their blog. Agreeing with the ASG, the Court said "a law firm "cannot, and ought not, run the website/blog, in respect of the proceedings, which are being prosecuted by it, as there is every likelihood".

Adv Puneet Aggarwal, appearing on behalf of the Petitioner, offered an unconditional apology and said that the article would be immediately removed from the website. 

Author – Papiha Ghoshal