Chandigarh, May 5
The use of cyberspace for projecting the recorded versions of intimate bedroom details is apparently not going down well with Union Minister of Law and Justice Salman Khurshid.

On the issue of controversial CDs being shown on websites, the Minister today minced no words to say that the “social media activities” were affecting the general public; and it was to be seen whether some technology was in place to curb these. The Minister was quick to add the desirability of curbing such media activities too was to be seen.

In Chandigarh for attending the golden jubilee celebrations of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, Khurshid was responding to a query on the need for checking the projection of embarrassing CDs, involving politicians and others, on websites.

Khurshid has all along been saying that the controversial CD allegedly featuring Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi was his private affair. But this is, perhaps, the first time Khurshid has commented on websites showing such CDs.

Talking to The Tribune, Khurshid said the need of the hour was to look at the systems prevailing in other countries and come out with some worldwide protocol on social media sites. “The media and the social media too must be more considerate,” he added.

Khurshid said the problem was much beyond CDs and social websites; it involved the freedom of the media. He added that the Supreme Court was already looking into the issue of freedom of media and guidelines on legal reporting could very well be expected. “We are awaiting the Supreme Court decision and hope to find a solution to the issues once the apex court comes out with its judgment,” he asserted.

Interacting with the media, Khurshid also made it clear that Anna Hazare’s assertion on hanging Singhvi, if found involved in the CD scandal, did not find much favour with him. Anna on Friday said Singhvi should be hanged if found "guilty" in connection with the controversial CD purportedly showing him in a compromising position with a woman. Khurshid said death penalty under Indian legal system could only be granted in rarest of rare cases, involving heinous crimes.

On the issue of filling the vacancies of High Court judges, he said it was linked to availability of infrastructure.