SC says need to regulate electronic media; govt bats for press freedom

There is a need to regulate the electronic media as most of the channels are running for TRPs, leading to more sensationalism, SC said even as the Centre batted for journalistic freedom

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 D Y 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 K M Joseph.

The bench restrained Sudarshan TV from telecasting two episodes of 'Bindas Bol' programme, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, saying it prime facie appears to vilify the Muslim community.

During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing, the apex court said that most of the channels are running for TRPs.

Mehta said sometimes certain channels are being used for providing the 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.

We are not saying states will impose any such guidelines as it would be an anathema to Article 19 of freedom of speech and expression, the bench said.

The apex court said the electronic media has become more powerful than print media and we have not been supportive of pre-broadcast ban.

I am not necessarily saying that electronic media should be regulated by the state but there must be some kind of self-regulation, Justice Chandrachud said, adding, We are talking about the electronic media and not about the social media at the moment.

Mehta said that there should be some kind of self-regulation but the freedom of journalist has to be maintained.

No freedom is absolute let me make myself clear on this, Justice Joseph told the solicitor general.

Mehta told the bench that few years ago, some channels were saying Hindu terror, Hindu terror.

We are talking about the electronic media as today people may not read newspapers but may watch electric media, the bench said.

Reading newspapers may not have entertainment value but the electronic media has got some entertainment value, it added.

The bench then referred to the criminal investigation being carried out by some media houses.

When journalists operate, they need to work around right to fair comment. See criminal investigation, media often focuses only one part of the investigation, it said.

What are you doing?, the bench asked the counsel appearing for the News Broadcasters Association. We need to ask you if you exist apart from the letter head. What do you do when a parallel criminal investigation goes on in media and reputation is tarnished?

The bench observed that the law does not have to regulate everything to regulate something.