News bearing communal tone could bring bad name to country: SC

The court made these remarks while hearing a plea by Jamiat Ulema-E-Hind against demonising of Tablighi Jamaat members

The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over dissemination of news with communal tone by a section of media and misuse of social media platforms to tarnish image of institutions and judges due to absence of regulatory mechanism. The top court said if this goes on unchecked, it would bring bad name to the country.

A bench presided over by Chief Justice N V Ramana pointed out there was no control over fake news and slandering in web portals and YouTube channels.

The bench said the social media companies like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube never respond to us. They write (host) anything against judges, institutions without accountability. They only worry about powerful men and not judges, institutions or common people.

"If you go to YouTube, you will find how fake news is freely circulated and anyone can start a channel on YouTube," the bench, also comprising CJI, and Justices Surya Kant and A S Bopanna, said.

The court made these oral remarks while hearing a plea by Jamiat Ulema-E-Hind against demonising of Tablighi Jamaat members, who participated in Nizamuddin Markaz here in March, 2020, in a section of media during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

"What is shown in a section of private media bears a communal tone. Ultimately, this country is going to get a bad name. Did you ever attempt to regulate these private channels," the bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

The officer, for his part, said, "Not only communal but planted stories. These portals even put fake news."

He also submitted the Union government has brought in Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which provided a redressal mechanism and timely resolution of grievances of users of social media and Over-The-Top platforms. The rules, among others, mandated the social media companies to appoint an Indian resident as grievance redressal officer.

“The real contest is between the freedom of the press and the right of citizens to get unadulterated news. We have tried to regulate and balance,” Mehta submitted.

He also submitted a transfer petition has already been filed in the top court by the Union government against the challenges to new IT rules from different High Courts in the country to avoid contradictory decisions. The top court can take holistic view on the rules as it was an all-India issue, he added.