Apex court slams TV show, calls for media standards

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that targeting a community in television programmes does no credit to democracy and is a disservice to the nation and ordered a TV channel not to telecast the remaining five episodes of its programme “UPSC Jihad”.

Observing that candidates from the Muslim community were appearing like any other aspirant and journalists have no “absolute” freedom to do or say anything, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said, “As the Supreme Court of the nation, we cannot allow you to say that Muslims are infiltrating civil services. You cannot say that the journalist has absolute freedom of doing this.”

Describing India as a melting pot of different civilisations and cultures, Justice Chandra-chud, heading a three-judge bench also comprising Justice Indu Malhotra and Justice K.M. Joseph, indicated that they may set-up a committee of five people, also having a former Chief Justice of India and an eminent person from media, to lay down standards of broadcasting. He said that the committee would comprise “eminent and unbiased” people.

The four episodes of the TV programme, projected as an “investigative” story, have already been telecast on September 11, 12, 13 and 14. The remaining five episodes were to be telecast in succession on a daily basis.

Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, was lukewarm to the suggestions by the court.