The Supreme Court dismissed a petition, which sought direction to the Government of India to constitute a Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India to regulate media.

Declining interference under Article 32 of the Constitution, the Bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Sanjay Karol noted that the prayers sought in the petition were ‘too wide’. Besides, it said it had to keep in mind the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression.

The top court of the country also noted that it was dealing with hate speeches/news items in separate petitions. 

The Apex Court order of August 8 further took in view the affidavits filed by the News Broadcasters Association and the News Broadcasters Standards Authority, which said that a committee already existed to deal with the grievances related to the media broadcast. 

As per the affidavits, the committee was headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and composed of members from the civil society.

The Bench, however, granted liberty to the petitioner to file a representation before the appropriate authorities to ventilate his grievances.

Filed by Reepak Kansal in 2020 in the backdrop of media coverage of the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, the petition sought various directions to ‘restrict’ the ‘assassination of dignity’ of an individual by broadcasting channels in the name of freedom of press. 

The plea further sought directions to restrict media trials interfering with the administration of justice. The petitioner further sought direction to ‘stop’ the misuse of airwaves by the broadcasting electronic channels in the name of media, press and journalism.

The court also considered another PIL filed by filmmaker Neelesh Navlakha on August 8, which sought the constitution of an independent “media tribunal”. 

The said petition was also dismissed, while giving liberty to the petitioner to approach the concerned High Court. 

Navlakha was represented by Advocates Shashwat Anand and Rajesh Inamdar.

(Case title: Reepak Kansal vs Union of India)

New Delhi (ILNS): The News Broadcasters Standards Authority (NBSA) has directed Aaj Tak TV channel to air an apology for telecasting fake news relating to late Actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

On October 7, 2020 the NBSA had asked Aaj Tak to air an apology, however the time, text and date was not decided.

Accordingly, the NBSA has directed Aaj tak to air an apology on October 27 at 8 pm with the following text on full screen in large size with voice over in slow speed:

“Aaj Tak apologizes that while reporting on the incidents relating to the suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput, we had run certain tweets on Aaj Tak channel and wrongly reported the screenshots calling them real and attributing them as the actor’s last tweets. By doing so, we have violated Clause 1 of the ‘Specific Guidelines Covering Reportage’ relating to ‘Accuracy’ which states that information should be gathered first hand from more than one source, if possible; Reports received from news agencies should be attributed and where possible be verified; Allegations should be reported accurately as made and errors of fact should be corrected at the earliest, giving sufficient prominence to the broadcast of the correct version of fact(s).”

The NBSA has specified that the text be translated in Hindi.

Further, the NBSA in the said order had also imposed a fine of Rs, 1 lakh on Aaj Tak which is to be remitted within 7 days of receipt of the letter.

Aaj Tak has further been directed to submit a CD containing the telecast with particulars of the date and time of the telecast within one week of telecast as proof of compliance.

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NBSA has further decided that the videos of the said programmes, if hosted on the website of the broadcaster, YouTube or other links should be removed immediately and confirmed within seven days.