Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Pinaki Chandra Ghose said in their order on Friday: “The exception carved out in the judgment dated 13th May 2015 permitting the publication of the photographs of the President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice, subject to the said authorities themselves deciding the question, is now extended to governors and chief ministers of states.”
The bench said: “In lieu of the photograph of the Prime Minister, the photograph of the departmental (Cabinet) minister/minister in charge of the concerned ministry may be published, if so desired. In the states, similarly, the photograph of the departmental (Cabinet) minister/ minister in charge in lieu of the photograph of the chief minister may be published, if so desired.”
The bench made it clear all other observations/directions in the May 13, 2015 judgment shall continue to be in force subject to the above modification. The earlier order directed appointment of an ombudsman.
It said: “We are of the view that to iron out creases that are bound to show from time to time in implementation of the present directions and to oversee such implementation, the government should constitute a three-member body consisting of persons with unimpeachable neutrality and impartiality who have excelled in their respective fields.”
The bench said these guidelines would remain in force till the time the government enacts a law or issues guidelines as a policy framework.
