Judging 'under stress' in digital era: SC judge

NEW DELHI: Judging is "under stress" in the digital era, Supreme Court judge AK Sikri said on Sunday, lamenting that even before a case is taken up by the court, people start discussing on social media what the outcome "should be", which has an influence on the judges.

Talking on "Freedom of press in the digital age" at the first Law Association For Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA) conference, Justice Sikri said the freedom of press is changing the paradigm of civil and human rights and the current pattern of media trials is an example of it.

"When an issue is raised, a petition is filed, (and) even before it is taken up by the court, people start discussing what should be the outcome. Not what 'is' the outcome, (but) what 'should be' the outcome. And it has an influence on how a judge decides a case," he said. "It is not so much in the SC because by the time they (judges) come to the apex court they know how the case is to be decided," Justice Sikri said.