Sushant Singh death: Do not justify ‘media trial’, sufficient mechanism to regulate electronic media, Centre tells HC

The court, referring to absence of action over media trial, had said, “There are so many orders passed by the Supreme Court. Nobody cares.”

On Wednesday, ASG Singh said, “We do not seek to justify or support media trial. There is an existing statutory and regulatory framework which covers the electronic media. As per guidelines, there are certain stages where the complaints are considered before coming to the government. There are adequate safeguards and remedies.”

Singh referred to several Supreme Court judgments and said it has been held that freedom of press was not only an essential prerequisite of democracy but ‘mother of all liberties”.

He submitted that since Parliament had not enacted any law controlling reporting of issues by the media and the apex court had time and again observed that there was reasonable regulation on the media, the High Court was not open to lay down guidelines for the reportage.

Singh said the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act provided sufficient provisions under the Programme Code to keep a check on electronic media and additional mechanism was not required.

The division bench is hearing multiple PILs related to media coverage on Rajput’s death, including one by eight former senior police officers of Maharashtra, seeking restraining orders against ‘media trial’ in the Rajput case.

Singh will continue his arguments and thereafter respondent broadcasters’ associations and news channels will make their submissions during the next hearing on Friday.