SC seeks Govt and PCI response on Media Coverage of Tabligi Incident

SC seeks Govt and PCI response on Media Coverage of Tabligi Incident

Syed Ali Mujtaba

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, Justices L Nageswara Rao and M M Shantanagoudar, asked the Press Council of India and Centre to place their response within two weeks about action taken against media communalizing the Nizamuddin Tabligi Jamat Markaz issue in March 2020. 

The case was heard through video conferencing on Wednesday, May 27. 

The court asked the Press Council of India (PCI) whether TV channels  broadcasting allegedly communally sensitive news did any violation of the Cable TV (Regulation) Act of 1995.

‘What action did the PCI initiated against certain sections of print and electronic media on allegations of communalization of the Markaz issue,’ the court asked?

On the allegations of circulation of Fake News by certain sections of print and electronic media on the Markaz issue, the Court asked the Press Council of India (PCI), whether it had initiated any action against them?  

The bench asked the Central government what measures it had taken to ensure that public isn’t instigated that may later become a law and order problem?

The court also asked the Central government to respond to the plea seeking a probe into the circumstances leading to the holding of the Tablighi Jamaat convention in Delhi in March.

The court wants to know whether the Markaz of the Tablighi Jamaat alone is responsible for the convention or the government has any role in permitting the foreigners in attending the function. When the government had the knowledge of COVID-19 spread, what prevented the government from stopping the convention?

Senior advocate,  Dushyant Dave arguing for the plaintiff said this is a grave issue impacting minority rights. It makes out an offence under the law.  This is a serious matter. It requires court’s intervention and appropriate action, Dave said.  

  He added; certain sections of print and electronic media indulged in communalization of the Nizamuddin Markaz issue. It circulated a lot of fake news, which was misleading and damaging the social fabric of the nation.  Why is the government silent?

The bench while ordering to implead the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) as a party respondent scheduled the hearing after two weeks.

Earlier, on Monday April 13, 2020, the Supreme Court had agreed to hear the petitions filed by the JamiatUlama-i-Hind and others seeking a direction to stop the media from communalizing the Tablighi Jamaat incident linking it to COVID-19 infection.

The Apex Court had asked the petitioners to impaled the Press Council of India (PCI) as a party to the case and had posted it for hearing after two weeks.  

The court at that time did not pass any interim order at this stage of the case without the Press Council of India (PCI) being impaled in the case. 

“We want to make solid long term measures about the news items as it is a question of larger reporting. Once we take cognizance of every thing,  people will then understand,” the bench then observed. 

The case then was also heard through video-conferencing.

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 Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com