Why not curb instigating TV programmes: Supreme Court to Centre

The Supreme Court slammed the Centre for “not doing anything” to curb TV programmes which have “instigating effect” and said that control over such news is as important as some preventive measure and to check law and order situation. 

Referring to the internet shutdown in some areas of Delhi on January 26, the apex court stressed upon the need for “fair and truthful” reporting and said that problem arises when it is used to agitate others. 

“The fact of the matter is that there are programmes which have instigating effect and you being the government is doing nothing about it,” a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the Centre. The bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, made this observation while hearing a batch of pleas which have raised the issue of media reporting of Tablighi Jamaat congregation here last year during the onset of Covid-19 pandemic. 

“There are programmes which instigate or impact a community. But as a government, you do nothing,” the bench observed.