Panaji, May 17 (TNN): During the hearing in the case concerning the trial of Tarun Tejpal for alleged rape, the Supreme Court had on Friday criticized the counsel for Goa government rather than the advocate representing the former Tehelka journalist as reported by TOI.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu, had taken exception to the counsel for Goa objecting to the court Registry not informing the parties while scheduling the hearing.

TOI on Friday erroneously reported that that court was unhappy with the lawyer of the journalist. Tejpal's lawyer did not appear before the bench when it took up the matter. The error is regretted.

The bench dismissed the objections raised by the counsel for Goa government after going through documents which showed that the hearing had been scheduled because the Additional Sessions Judge of Goa, who is trying Tejpal, had sought more time to complete the trial.

An annoyed bench told counsel for Goa government that he had made wrong accusations against the court. The court also told the Goa counsel that he should respect institutions, leading him to offer apology for raising objections.

The bench granted one year's time to the Goa court to conclude the trial.