Cuttack, Feb. 19: Orissa High Court has imposed a temporary ban on coverage of the case of the alleged molestation of a lady police inspector by several news dailies and news channels.

The court imposed the restriction in an interim order while issuing notices to 12 publishers and channel heads named in a PIL filed by the High Court Bar Association for a judicial probe into the case.

Arguing on behalf of the association, senior advocate Ashok Mohanty had pressed for the interim direction to the parties named in the petition not to publish or telecast "exaggerated, unverified and unnecessary news on the issue as it will not only worsen the situation but completely tarnish and damage the reputation of the institution involved".

Government advocate Ramakanta Mohapatra submitted before the court that the state government had nothing to say in connection with the interim order sought by the association and would go by the order the court deems fit to pass.

Taking note of it, the division bench of Chief Justice Vineet Saran and Justice B.R. Sarangi on Friday posted the matter to March 15 for further hearing on the PIL along with the replies to the notices.

In the interim order, the Court imposed temporary restriction on coverage of the alleged lady police inspector molestation case by the publishers of six news dailies (both Odia and English) and channel heads of seven Odia news channels named as parties in the petition. The court expected them to file reply to the notices within a week. The Telegraph was not named.

Another PIL filed by advocate Shivsankar Mohanty had also sought judicial probe by a high court judge "to inquire into the incident to find out the truth of the allegations and give suggestions to prevent such occurrences in future".

Earlier, the court had asked the government advocate "to obtain instructions from the government on the issue and produce the necessary records pertaining to the case".

While producing the necessary records pertaining to the case yesterday, the government advocate said the government was prepared to abide by whatever order the court passes on the issue.

A lady police inspector had lodged a complaint against two lawyers for allegedly molesting her inside a lift on the premises of the high court, at the Lalbag police station on February 9.

Acting on the complaint, a case had been registered against the two lawyers under Indian Penal Code's section 354 (outraging of modesty of a woman) and 354 (A) sexual harassment of a woman.

The High Court Bar Association had claimed that the CCTV footage of the lift did not corroborate the allegations made by the lady inspector and ceased court work from February 13 to February 15 to protest against the "false case" lodged by the lady against two lawyers, who are members of the association. The Odisha Police Association had demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident as well.