The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has educated the Supreme Court that on the off chance that it is quick to start an activity to manage Digital Media, at that point it ought to be the advanced media rather than established press, as it has more extensive viewership and can turn viral.
The Ministry in an affirmation in the Supreme Court said while in a traditional press (regardless of whether electronic or print), the distribution or broadcast is a one-time act, the advanced media has a quicker reach to a more extensive scope of readership and can become viral due to a few electronic applications like WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook.
“Considering the serious impact and the potential, it is desirable that if this Court decides to undertake the exercise, it should first be undertaken about digital media as there already exist sufficient framework and judicial pronouncements concerning electronic media and print media,” said the affirmation documented regarding the Sudarshan TV case.
“The media includes mainstream electronic media, mainstream print media as well as a parallel media namely digital print media and digital web-based news portal and YouTube channels as well as ‘Over The Top’ platforms (OTTs),” said the Ministry in a sworn statement.
A seat including Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, K.M. Joseph and Indu Malhotra have remained the transmission of Sudarshan TV program UPSC Jihad, until further requests.
The peak court has likewise shown the setting up of a five-part panel, including individuals of honorable height without having any politically disruptive direction, to give guidelines to electronic media.
From this perspective, the Ministry in the testimony said the current appeal is worried about adjusting between the writer’s opportunity and dependable news coverage, which is a field previously involved either by the legal arrangements made by Parliament or by the decisions of the Supreme Court.
Given the issue has already received the attention of the Parliament, as well as, of this Court, the present petition is confined to only one channel Digital Media namely Sudarshan T.V. and this Court may not undertake the exercise of laying down any further guidelines with or without the appointment of an Amicus or a Committee of persons as Amicus,” said the affirmation.
The top court will continue on the hearing of this issue on Thursday.
source: with input from ians
