Ideally, the media and news platforms are supposed to make people aware of the current events and issues faced by the nation and the world. However, even though the about to be mentioned statement might face a lot of disagreement, Indian media and news channels are way past the line of practising Yellow Journalism. Even the people of law are a part of these idiosyncrasies. Fanfiction and conspiracy theories have become a daily part of our news appetite.
As a student of law, it isn’t very hard to notice the injustice being served in a golden platter.
The Fundamental Rights as well the Constitutional rights are being breached with the culprits hiding under the veil of the public.
Nowadays, we have media channels assuming the role of the judiciary and conducting interrogations, with no regard to privacy and right to life, popularly known as the Trial by Media/ Media Trails. It is the impact of news channels and similar social media platforms coverage on a person’s reputation by creating a widespread perception of guilt regardless of any verdict in a court of law as well as provoking an atmosphere of public hysteria with a possibility of causing a lynch mob. This not only makes a fair trial nearly impossible but means that regardless of the result of the trial, the accused persons will not be able to live the rest of their life without intense public scrutiny.
Indians are highly driven by hypocritical and hysterical emotions, with the passage of time losing the importance of the Constitutional values. It is very important to keep in mind that ‘The Right To Fair Trial’ have is a fundamental right provided to every citizen of the Country.
The provisions are mainly aimed at safeguarding this right to life under Article 21, contained under the Contempt f Courts Act, 1971 and under Articles 129 and 215 (Contempt Jurisdiction-Power of Supreme Court and High Court to punish for Contempt of itself respectively) of the Constitution of India.
This savage abuse of Article 19, by the government and media/news channels, is a real threat to democracy in India.