SC says need to regulate electronic media; Centre bats for journalistic freedom

| | New Delhi
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SC says need to regulate electronic media; Centre bats for journalistic freedom

Wednesday, 16 September 2020 | PTI | New Delhi

There is a need to regulate the electronic media as most of the channels are running for TRPs, leading to “more sensationalism”, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday even as the Centre batted for journalistic freedom saying it would be “disastrous” for any democracy to control the Press.

The apex court, making clear it is not suggesting “censorship on media”, said there should be some kind of self-regulation in the media. “Regulating internet is very difficult but we need to regulate the electronic media now,” a bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud said.

The top court said this while hearing a plea which has raised grievance over Sudarshan TV’s “Bindas Bol” programme whose promo had claimed that the channel would show the ‘big expose on conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims in Government service’. While the apex court said that some kind of self-regulation in media was needed, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that “freedom of journalist is supreme”.

“It would be disastrous for any democracy to control press,” Mehta told the bench, also comprising Justices Indu Malhotra and KM Joseph.

Mehta said sometimes certain channels are being used for providing medium to accused to point his or her views. Mehta also said that it needs to be seen if a potential accused could be given a platform to air his or her defense. “The problem with electronic media is all about TRPs, thus leading to more and more sensationalism. So many things masquerade as a form of right,” the bench observed. The apex court said the electronic media has “become more powerful than print media and we have not been supportive of pre-broadcast ban”.

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