New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The Supreme Court Monday issued notices to the central and Uttar Pradesh governments seeking their reply to a plea for restraint by the media in covering the probe into the Aarushi Talwar murder case.Issuing notices also to around six media houses and various ministries and departments under the two governments, a bench of Justice Altmas Kabir and Justice Markandey Katju sought their replies within two weeks.

The bench issued notices to the union ministries of Law and justice and information and broadcasting, besides the Uttar Pradesh police and the Central Bureau of Investigation on a public interest lawsuit, questioning the media coverage of the probe into the murder of the 14-year-old Noida girl.

The lawsuit had questioned the media reports on the high profile-murder that ended up tarnishing the reputation of the girl’s parents, especially of her father Rajesh Talwar.

The bench asked the two governments to assess whether there could be some mechanism to restrain the media in covering criminal cases being probed or tried in a court of law.

The suit had been filed by a Delhi-based advocate Surat Singh, seeking directions to protect the reputation of the Talwar family.

On July 22, the apex court had asked the media to be cautious in covering the Aarushi murder case to ensure that the reputation of suspects in the case is not tarnished.