Not in support of media trials, statutory and self regulatory guidelines exist: Centre to HC

The Central Government on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that it did not support media trials conducted by the news channels. It also mentioned that the Supreme Court had accepted the role of the National Broadcasters Association, a private body, as a regulatory authority for TV news channels while mentioning that the Supreme Court had underlined that media freedom should not be interfered with. 

The High Court had earlier asked Centre if there's any regulatory board to control the content broadcasted by electronic media. The Centre has said that even though it did not support the media trials, but statutory and self regulatory guidelines for the print as well electronic media already exist.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni was hearing a bunch of PILs seeking that sought that the media, specially news channels, should be bound to some restrictions. The plea was filed in view of recent reporting related to the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

The petitioners had said that the news channels were conducting a media trial into the case on the basis of mere conspiracy theories. The petitioners also included some senior police officer. On Wednesday, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, said that the guidelines already exist for TV news content, however, it is important to see if those guidelines were followed.

"We do not seek to justify media trial. All courts have condemned media trial. We accept that position," ASG Singh said. "There is an existing statutory framework which covers electronic media. News broadcasters also have self regulatory guidelines....Also, the SC was informed about the NBA model which was accepted. They accepted that media should not be interfered with," Mr Singh said.

Many had slammed the irresponsible reporting against Bollywood in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. Recently, association of Bollywood producers and film bodies also filed a plea against media houses and several journalists for defaming Hindi film industry.