Curbing hateful content on TV as good as using lathis in riots: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday held that stopping content having attributes of hate on television is as vital as arming policemen with lathis and installing barricades to contain the spread of violence during riotsA bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde and comprising Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said control over certain kind of news which agitate people and may lead to violence or may trigger riots is essentialThe Chief Justice stressed Preventing it reporting hateful content as powerful as putting barricades Preventing instigation is as important as providing lathis to the policemenHe cited that on January 26 the government shut down internet as a preventive measure amid the raging violence in Delhi during the farmer unions tractor rallyYou shut down mobile internet due to farmers visit to Delhi the Chief Justice said As Mehta objected to the term saying that the incident can hardly be termed as a visit the Chief Justice emphasised he was highlighting the issue by using a noncontroversial wordAfter this oblique reference to the Republic Day violence on Delhis streets the bench continued with the hearing on a batch of pleas including one filed by Jamiat UlamaiHind alleging bad reporting by some media houses demonising the Muslim community against the backdrop of Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz in DelhiThe bench added that there are programmes which instigated or impact a community but the government does not do anything However it added government control cannot be equated with measures to curb free speechThat is why governments power to control some news becomes very important it observedThe bench cited that people are free to adopt any tone on TV but it should not trigger violence or incite hatred We are only interested with people instigating inciting violence and riots these situations lead to loss of life and property the Chief Justice said stressing that it is an issue which worries the top courtMehta replied that if such situations are created then it is very unfortunateFair and truthful reporting is not a problem but reporting become a problem when it is projected in a way to agitate others the Chief Justice elaborated At this stage he drew an analogy between taking preventive measures to stop hate on television and the use of lathis and barricades by policemen as a measure amid riotsControl over some news is as important as some preventive measure and check law and order situation I dont know why you are blind to this I dont mean anything offensive but you are doing nothing about it he addedCJI Bobde said that there are broadcasts and programmes which play a role in instigating people and not just one community but any community You dont do anything about it he saidDuring the hearing in the matter the top court deliberated on the efficacy of certain laws including Cable TV Networks Act of 1995 which come into force in these situationsThe top court has scheduled the matter for further hearing after three weeksThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever