New Delhi, Jan 22: Disturbed by the commercial
aspect of news coverage, the Delhi High Court on Thursday said the
media needed to have a type of "self-imposed restriction"
while handling sensitive issues.
"There has to be some sort of self-imposed restriction.
It`s very disturbing and there is a commercial aspect in every
thing," the court said while directing a news magazine to file
its response on how it managed to get statements of three
suspected terrorists after they were taken into custody by the
police for their alleged involvement in Delhi serial blasts.
"We want you (the magazine) to come clean on how you
have conducted the interview and how the police allowed you to
meet them. You must file an affidavit," a Bench comprising
Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice Sanjeev Khanna said.
The court passed the order on a petition filed by an
NGO, Act Now For Harmony and Democracy, seeking action against
police officials for allegedly leaking confessional statements
made before them by the suspected terrorists.
The petitioner also pleaded that the court should frame
guidelines for media regarding publication of information
obtained by police during investigation.
Meanwhile, News Broadcasters Association, has also
approached the court pleading that framing of any guidelines
would affect the coverage of sensitive issues by news
broadcasters.
"We have already drawn-up a Code of Ethics and
Broadcasting Standards and issuance of any direction or
guidelines in respect of the matter will invariably affect and
impinge upon the coverage of sensitive news by news
broadcasters," the counsel appearing for the Association said.
The NGO, alleged in its petition that the police
officials had leaked the alleged confessional statements of
the suspected terrorists.
"Delhi Police is leaking information claimed to be
obtained by them in the course of their interrogation into a
case to the media and the manner in which the media publishes
such information, apart from being defamatory in nature, also
affects the fundamental right of the accused to a fair trial,"
Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for the NGO contended.
"A weekly magazine published a purported confession.
It seems that the police took the reporter inside the police
station where such statements were made which is not
justified. The media is relying on the statements which is not
even admissible in the court," he said.
Five accused were arrested by the city police for their
alleged involvement in the serial blasts in the Capital.
Rehman, Nissar and Shakil were arrested by the police from
Jamia Nagar on September 20, a day after two alleged militants
were gunned down in an encounter. Mohd Saif and Zeeshan were
arrested on the day of the encounter.
Bureau Report
