"It's All About TRPs": Supreme Court's 10 Big Quotes On Electronic Media

[Kool_SRG]

The comments have been viewed by many in context with the criticism of the Sushant Singh Rajput investigations by a section of the media.

 

New Delhi: A private channel's TV show pitched as an expose on a "conspiracy of Muslim infiltration in government service'' was put on hold today by the Supreme Court, which made very strong remarks on the state of the electronic media and called for a panel of distinguished persons to set standards for channels.

Here are the 10 top quotes by Supreme Court judges:

1. The problem with the electronic media is all about TRPs, leading to more and more sensationalism, damage reputation of people and masquerade as form of right

2. The power of electronic media is huge. It can become a focal point by targeting particular community or groups

3. Such allegations (Muslims infiltrating civil services) are without factual basis; how can this be allowed? Can such programmes be allowed in a free society?

4. Reputations can be damaged; image can be tarnished. How to control this? The state cannot do this

5. The edifice of a stable democratic society and constitutional rights and duties are based on the coexistence of communities. Any attempt to vilify a community must be viewed with disfavour

6. We need to look at the ownership of the visual media. Entire shareholding pattern of the company must be public. Revenue model of the company should also be put up to check if the government is putting more advertisements in one and less in another

7. Media can't fall foul of standards prescribed by themselves. One needs to see the role of anchor. Check in the TV debates, the percentage of time taken by the anchor to speak. They mute the speaker and ask questions

8. When we talk about journalistic freedom, it is not absolute. A journalist shares the same freedom as other citizens. There is no separate freedom for journalists like in the US. We need journalists who are fair in their debates

9. Let the best within the nation suggest measures which we can help debate on our platform and then arrive at standards. Now an anchor is targeting one community. To say we are a democracy we need to have certain standards in place

10. No programme that creates communal disharmony can be aired. It is right that the harmony which exists in India is disturbed?

 

 

[Kool_SRG]

‘Disservice to nation’: Supreme Court on Sudarshan TV’s ‘UPSC Jihad’ show

The court was hearing a plea by advocate Firoz Iqbal Khan who claimed that the programme contains derogatory statements about Muslim community and was divisive in nature.

 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took strong exception to the television programme titled ‘Bindas Bol’ aired by news channel Sudarshan news relating to Muslims entering civil services which the channel had likened to “infiltration” and “Jihad”.

A three-judge bench, headed by justice DY Chandrachud, said that the claims made by the channel were “insidious” and it also cast aspersions on the credibility of the UPSC exams and was a great disservice to the nation.

“Here is one anchor who says one particular community is trying to infiltrate UPSC. Can anything be more insidious (than such claims). Such allegations affect the stability of the country and also cast aspersions on the credibility of the UPSC exam,” justice Chandrachud remarked.

He said that every single person who applies for the UPSC goes through the same selection process and the insinuation that one community is trying to infiltrate civil services does great disservice to the nation.

“In the UPSC exam, all are subjected to the same tests, interviews and are assessed by the same persons. But the insinuation is that one community is trying to infiltrate the UPSC. What you are doing does not do credit to our democratic system. Your client is doing great disservice to the nation. We are a melting pot of cultures,” Chandrachud told senior counsel Shyam Divan, who was appearing on behalf of Sudarshan news.

Sudarshan news submitted that the programme raises an issue concerning national security and it is in public interest to bring out the story.

“The programme is in adherence to programme code,” senior counsel Shyam Divan on behalf of Sudarshan news maintained.

Divan also submitted that he was willing to supply copies of all episodes of the programme to the court so that the bench can decide whether or not the programme is in violation of law.

The court was hearing a plea by advocate Firoz Iqbal Khan who claimed that the programme contains derogatory statements about Muslim community and was divisive in nature.

Justice KM Joseph, who was also on the bench, said that freedom granted to the media is not absolute and the manner in which certain television channels conduct news debates today left a lot to be desired.

He asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for Central government, to explore options on disclosing the shareholding pattern and revenue model of media houses on public domain.

“Certain channels mute panellists when they express views which go against the anchor’s views. This is unfair. No freedom is absolute, not even journalistic freedom,” justice Joseph said.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said that freedom of a journalist is supreme and any regulation of the same would need extensive debates.

The bench acknowledged that regulation of media outlets is a very difficult proposition. He however asked Sudarshan news to exercise freedom of speech with responsibility.

Last week, the Centre allowed Sudarshan News to broadcast the show which claimed a ‘big expose on conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims in government service’.

Earlier, the top court on August 28 declined to impose a pre-broadcast ban on the news channel, saying it has to be cautious in imposing a prior restraint on publication or the airing of views and cannot prevent airing of a programme based on an unverified transcript of a 49-second clip.

[Kool_SRG]

Supreme Court stays telecast of Sudarshan TV show that 'vilified' Muslims

The Supreme Court temporarily barred news broadcaster Sudarshan News from broadcasting two episodes of one of its programmes, observing that the "rabid" show appeared to "vilify" the Muslim community.

 

The Supreme Court Tuesday temporarily barred news broadcaster Sudarshan News from broadcasting two episodes of one of its programmes, observing that the "rabid" show appeared to "vilify" the Muslim community. The episodes were to be aired today and tomorrow. The Supreme Court ordered a stay on the broadcast till it next hears the matter. While hearing the matter today, the Supreme Court also called for regulation in the media.

"At this stage, prima facie it does appear that the programme does vilify the Muslim community... Look at this programme, how rabid is this programme that one community is entering into civil services," a three-judge bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud said as it ordered a stay on the broadcast of two episodes of a show on alleged infiltration of Muslims into the bureaucracy.

"See how insinuating is the subject of this programme that Muslims have infiltrated the services and this puts the examinations of UPSC under scanner without any factual basis," said the bench, which also comprised Justices Indu Malhotra and KM Joseph.

"Such insidious charges also put a question mark on the UPSC exams. Aspersions have been cast on UPSC. Such allegations without any factual basis, how can this be allowed? Can such programs be allowed in a free society," the bench asked.

The three-judge bench said Sudarshan TV cannot air the episodes until the Supreme Court completes hearing the matter. The court will next hear the matter on September 17.

A NEW REGULATOR?

During today's hearing, the Justice DY Chandrachud-led bench also made observations about regulating electronic media. The court suggested that a committee can be appointed to help electronic media regulate itself.

"We are of the opinion that we may appoint a committee of five distinguished citizens who can come up with certain standards for the electronic media. We don't want any politically divisive nature and we need members who are of commendable stature," the Supreme Court said.

"We are not suggesting some kind of censorship on media but there should be some kind of self-regulation in media," the bench also said. "How do we lay down some standards for the media reportage?"

The bench added that there should be some kind of self-regulation and it would hear the solicitor general on this issue. "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 court was hearing a petition seeking a ban on the broadcast of the Sudarshan TV programme, whose promo had claimed that the channel would show a 'big expose on conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims in government service'. The Supreme Court had previously said that prima facie, the petition has raises significant issues bearing on the protection of constitutional rights.

[Kool_SRG]

Get ready better to have regulation on Pvt channels where its required...

[tom brady]

Abboo..are they still alive

[johnydanylee]

Inkaa