The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that while the Central government snapped the internet in parts of Delhi to prevent riots on the Republic Day, it was hesitant to take similar action against television broadcasters who air content which instigate or provoke people. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said that even when shows (on Television) instigate or impact a community, the government does nothing.
“There are programs which instigated or impact a community. Yesterday you shut down the internet and mobile because of the farmers visit to Delhi. I’m using the non controversial term. You have shut down internet mobile. These are problems that can arise anywhere. I don’t know what happened in the TV yesterday,” CJI Bobde said.
The court was hearing the plea by Jamiat Ulema I Hind against the communal reporting by the media around the Nizamuddin Markaz gathering of March 2020 which was widely alleged by television media to be a COVID-19 spread haven.
The Nizamuddin area in Delhi was sealed on March 30 after it came to light that several people, who had attended a religious event held in March at Nizamuddin by a Muslim organisation called Tablighi Jamaat, were found to be infected with Coronavirus. At least 16,500 people had visited Tablighi Jamaat’s headquarters in Nizamuddin between March 13 and 24.
The Bench which also comprised Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian on Thursday adverted to the internet shutdown in the national capital on Republic Day in view of the farmers protests and the tractor rally organised by them.
The Court said similar action was needed for broadcasters who air provocative news and content. It, however, added that “fair and truthful reporting was not a problem.”
“Fair and truthful reporting is normally not a problem. Problem is when it is used to agitate others. It’s as important as providing lathis to policemen. It’s an important preventive part of the law and order situation,” the Bench remarked.
The Supreme Court further stated it didn’t know why the Centre was blind towards such “instigating” content. “Control over some news is as important as some preventive measure and check law and order situation. I don’t know why you are blind to this. I don’t mean anything offensive but you are doing nothing about it,” said the Bench.
The Supreme Court on Thursday also examined whether all broadcasts are covered under the ambit of Cable TV Networks Regulation Act and whether or not content transmitted through other than cable services can also be hauled up violation of the program code.
