'Alter Rules For Digital Media First, News Becomes Viral', Centre To SC On Guidelines For TV Media

Ministry Of Broadcasting and Information asked the Supreme court to regulate rules for Digital media first as it has a larger impact on people and news becomes viral in no time.

(File Photo/ Getty)

Amid the controversy over laying roles for Television News, The Centre on Wednesday (September 16) suggested the Supreme Court (SC) to look into regulating digital media before electronic media if it wants to lay down guidelines for media in the country. The Centre told the top court that digital media has more reach and impact that TV media. Also Read|National Unemployment Day Is Trending On Twitter On PM Modi's 70th Birthday; Here's Why "Digital media has faster reach, potential to become viral due to apps like WhatsApp and Facebook," says the Centre's affidavit to the Supreme Court. "Digital media has serious impact and because of its potential, the court must first take up digital media," it says. The government also said there is a "sufficient framework and judgments" on electronic media and print media. "The issue of balancing freedom of speech and responsible journalism has already been governed by statutory provisions and judgments," it says, adding that TV media is regulated by earlier cases and precedents.

 The government has also urged the top court to appoint Amicus Curiae - a friend of the court -- or a panel to assist the court in deciding on guidelines.

The Ministry has filed its reply to a bunch of pleas against the telecast of a show by a private news channel on the entry of Muslims in civil services. A bench, headed by Justice DY Chandrachud, had on Tuesday restrained the channel from broadcasting subsequent episodes of this programme, and expressed disposition to have a set of guidelines for the electronic media. Adjourning the matter to Thursday, the bench had also observed that it was contemplating having a panel of distinguished persons to suggest these guidelines. But the court's views have not found favour with the government, which has said there are already self-regulatory and statutory regimes in place to deal with complaints, besides the Supreme Court's own judgments on this point. "Subject matter of the present petition namely balancing between the journalist freedom and responsible journalism is a field already occupied either by the statutory provisions made by the Parliament or by the judgments of this Hon'ble Court," stated the affidavit. In the Tuesday hearing, the Supreme Court voiced concern about the race for TRPs and "sensationalism" on TV and had said it would set up a panel to suggest standards for electronic media. Journalistic freedom is not absolute, the judges said, calling for a panel of five distinguished citizens to come up with standards for electronic media.