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Published : 06 Jan 2026, 06:08 PM
The Supreme Court has said that publishing or broadcasting false news will amount to “contempt of court”, making the individuals or institutions concerned legally liable.
The warning was issued in a media statement on Tuesday by Supreme Court Registrar General Mohammad Habibur Rahman Siddiquee.
The statement said that several media outlets had recently carried incorrect reports -- including television scrolls -- claiming that a senior judge of the Appellate Division had gone on leave over a breach of seniority in the appointment of the chief justice, and that a judge of the High Court Division had taken leave after not being assigned to a bench.
The apex court said these reports were “entirely false, misleading and deeply regrettable”.
Such false and confusing reporting about the country’s highest court, the statement said, creates “misconceptions among the public and undermines the dignity and image” of the Supreme Court.
The registrar general also noted that presenting untrue and misleading information about the top court constitutes contempt of court.
The statement said that this “unwanted situation” would not have arisen had journalists verified the accuracy of the information with the office of the Supreme Court Registrar before publishing or broadcasting such reports.
Clarifying the absence of the two judges, the statement said Appellate Division Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam had taken leave due to his mother’s illness. At the same time, High Court Division Justice Farid Ahmed was temporarily unable to perform judicial duties as he had been admitted to hospital due to illness.
The Supreme Court stressed that these absences had no connection whatsoever with the reports circulated in the media.
The statement instructed that before publishing or broadcasting any news related to the Supreme Court, media professionals must verify the objectivity and accuracy of the information with the court’s designated media focal person or the Office of the Registrar General.
