“Everything shown in section of private media networks bears communal tone, country will bear bad name eventually”: CJI NV Ramana

The Chief Justice of India expressed displeasure over the communalising of news & information by a certain section of private news networks.

The bench was hearing a plea seeking directions for curbing the hate which was allegedly met out against the Tablighi Jamaat during the Covid pandemic by news channels.

In this context, the CJI made generalised oral remarks, stating that looking at everything from a communal lens will eventually give India a bad name.

He further added that anyone at any point in time writes against Judges, institutions and there is absolutely no accountability.

“Youtube and Web portals have fake news and slandering. Now if you visit Youtube you will find that anyone can start a channel and news is freely circulated without checks and balances,” said the bench, also comprising CJI, and Justices Surya Kant and A S Bopanna.

While making the above statements, CJI Ramana asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta whether anything was being done to regulate these issues. To this, the Law Officer said that the new IT Rules take care of the said issues, adding that the same have however been challenged across High Courts in the Country.

“We have filed a Transfer plea for this purpose,” said Solicitor General

The bench proceeded to direct that the said plea then be tagged along with the Transfer plea, whenever it is taken up by Court.