With the variety of television shows being telecasted these days, there are also some that ignite communal feelings and instigate people, the Supreme Court said while hearing a petition.
The SC criticized the government for its lack of action against shows that provoke citizens, leading to violence and riots. As such, it told the Centre to take proper steps to control the telecast of such programs on the TV by implementing a set of stricter laws.
After the series of events that took place last year revolving around the blame game of the pandemic and other such controversies, the SC said, “Prevention of instigation is an important part of maintaining law and order and the government has done nothing to address these issues.”
Heading a bench of Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said, “Fair and truthful reporting is not a problem. When projected in a manner to agitate others, (it is a problem).”
The court was hearing the petitions filed by Peace Party, Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind and others who raised the issues of the media reporting of the events in the Tablighi Jamaat meet of 2020 in Delhi. The petitioners said that the meeting was slammed and communalized by some media houses after it was found to be a covid-19 hotspot.
The apex court has issued notices to the Centre, the Press Council of India, and the Broadcasting Association to look into the matter and control the provocative news shows.
However, the government defended itself and said that it had ceased the telecast of some shows after such cases erupted. To this, the Chief Justice said, “Fact is that there are programs which have the effect of instigating people. You (the government) do nothing about it. It can happen either way. Instigation can be against either community.”
Speaking about Republic Day’s internet closure following the chaos at the tractor rally organized by the farmers as part of their protest against the 3 farm laws, SA Bobde said, “Yesterday, you shut down internet due to farmer’s rally. The focus is not on farmers, but you have shut internet mobile. These are problems that can arise everywhere.”
The SC further told the government to review the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act to avoid these instances in the future. “Just one line in the law can do,” the judges said.
The Centre did take action in some cases against TV channels that telecasted provocative shows and people can’t be stopped from saying anything, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, while adding that he will send the suggestions of the top court to the government.
“We can give details on how many cases government powers are used. But in a live chat show, there is no control, and if one says something atrocious, it cannot be stopped. There is a group, which is monitoring, and action is being taken, and we had stopped telecast for a week or so,” Tushar Mehta said.
Disregarding the statement, Justice Bobde said that they are bothered with instigating speeches, not what anyone has to say otherwise.
“We are not interested in stopping people from saying anything. We are concerned with the broadcast that can instigate people leading to riots. These days people say anything on television. Let them do it,” he said.
The advocate appearing for the Broadcasting Association said in the court that the department holds the power to take necessary action and has already done so. It has hampered the channels while also coming as a restraint. He added that channels have also issued apologies for the same.
The next hearing in the case is slated for a period after 3 weeks from now.