The apex court, however, clarified that it was not merely examining the specific issue relating to the media coverage of Aarushi murder case but rather a larger dimension of the freedom of press vis-à-vis the fundamental right and right to privacy of a citizen.
Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam, in his brief intervention, said the Centre was also keen on striking a "delicate balance" between the functional independence of the media and right to privacy and fundamental right of a citizen.
Besides the Union Home Ministry, Ministry of Law and Justice, I&B Ministry, CBI, and the UP Police, the PIL has listed the Press Council of India (PCI), Aaj Tak, NDTV, Times of India, Hindustan Times, CNN-IBN as respondents before the court.
The petition alleged the media had maligned the "sacred" father-daughter relations by "irresponsibly" reporting the incident.
Singh also sought a direction for setting up a five- judge "criminal justice system reforms committee" to inquire as to "why an innocent person" was allowed to rot in police custody for 50 days because of bungling and mishandling" by the investigation agencies.
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