HC irked over plea to recall its order preventing two sides from airing their case in media

The Delhi High Court Wednesday expressed displeasure over a plea moved for recalling its order directing all persons involved in an alleged sexual harassment case to refrain from commenting on the issue on the social media or any other platform.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao was irked over the application filed by a woman who had accused her former employers of sexual harassment, saying through its earlier order, it had acted with the intention of protecting both sides but now, "we feel we are the accused".

"This is really embarrassing for us. It is frustrating. If you do not like it, then withdraw your plea and fight it out in the media. We did not want a parallel trial to go on between the parties in the media.

"We do not like that when a matter is before us, the parties are fighting it outside the court also," the bench said, adding, "Dr B R Ambedkar would have never thought that a high court under Article 226 of the Constitution would be hearing such issues."