Special CBI Court favours balance between RTI and the right to privacy
30 Apr, 2012In the judgement convicting former BJP President Bangaru Laxman, the Special CBI Judge Kanwal Jeet Arora from Delhi suggested ‘self-restraint’ by the media in providing information saying that the media should strike a balance between the twin interests of the right to information to general public and the right to privacy of a person. The Judge said, "Any regulation on the powers of the Press had always invoked sharp criticism from every quarters. Therefore, a restraint has to come from within. It has to be a self-restraint balancing the 'twin interests' of right to information of the general public on the one hand and the right to privacy of the person on the other hand, with respect to whom the information is sought to be revealed or aired." The role of the press is immense in a democratic polity, and the power which the press and journalists enjoy should be exercised with a great sense of responsibility.