{"id":110926,"date":"2024-05-29T17:30:07","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T12:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=editorial-analysis&#038;p=110926"},"modified":"2024-05-30T15:13:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T09:43:00","slug":"media-trial-a-conviction-before-the-trial","status":"publish","type":"editorial-analysis","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/media-trial-a-conviction-before-the-trial","title":{"rendered":"Media Trial, A Conviction Before The Trial?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Context<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/supreme-court\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Supreme Court (SC) of India<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ordered the <\/span><b>Union Home Affairs Ministry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to develop a thorough Standard operation Procedure within three months on the subject matter o<\/span><b>f press conferences given by police officials in criminal cases<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); width: 100.1%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Relevance For Prelims:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Right to a Fair Trial, <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/indian-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indian Media- Quo Vadis?<\/a>, <\/span><a style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/what-do-you-understand-by-the-concept-freedom-of-speech-and-expression-does-it-cover-hate-speech-also-why-do-the-films-in-india-stand-on-a-slightly-different-plane-from-other-forms-of-expression-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Free Speech and Expression,<\/a>\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/world-press-freedom-index-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Press Freedom Index 2024<\/a>, and <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/impact-of-social-media-on-indian-politics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Impact Of Social Media On Indian Politics.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; background-color: var(--global--color-background);\">Relevance For Mains:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Challenges Associated with the Trial by Media.<\/span><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Media Trials<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Objective of SC\u2019s Order: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was done to prevent the dismay faced by the person who are put in the<\/span><b> dock of Media Trail <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on the basis of statements given by these officials.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was done because the manner in which <\/span><b>high-profile matters like the Sushant Singh and Aryan Khan cases<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are being publicised in recent times has spawned a new debate between &#8220;<\/span><b>free speech and expression&#8221; and the &#8220;right to a fair trial<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Impact of Proliferation of Media Trials:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It is undermining one of the c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ore concepts of criminal jurisprudence i.e. the<\/span><b> assumption of &#8220;innocent until proven guilty&#8221;.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About Media Trial<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Genesis of Media Trial: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The notion <\/span><b>&#8220;Media Trial&#8221; or &#8220;Trial by Media&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> got its name in the <\/span><b>United States of America<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during the period of 19th Century and became familiar with the Indian legal system in the famous, or rather, infamous case of<\/span><b> &#8220;K.M Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is <\/span><b>not a legal term <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that is defined in any statute or any legal glossary.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Definition of Media Trial: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many legal luminaries have time to time tried to give a definition to this concept. However, the most apt one came from the pen of<\/span><b> R. Surette <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who described this in words:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Media trials are defined as certain regional or national news &#8216;events&#8217;<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in which the <\/span><b>criminal justice system is co-opted by the media <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as a source of high drama and entertainment.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major Problem:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In our country, it was briefly specified by the Supreme Court as an<\/span><b> informal trial <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">where there is a <\/span><b>&#8220;perception of being guilty&#8221; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and whose verdict would only <\/span><b>injure the chance of fair proceedings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and tamper the accused&#8217;s right to get a just and impartial trial.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It contains the ability to <\/span><b>declare any innocent as guilty<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or\/and vice versa, in the eyes of the general public.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rights of Media Personnel:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> There is no disagreement on the fact that the media personnel have a <\/span><b>legal as well as constitutional right<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to cover the events that are happening in courts and disseminate that same to their audience.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Court\u2019s View on Media Trial<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Positive Impact:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This will boost the <\/span><b>trust of the public<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the proceedings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Parallel Trials:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> However, this absolute freedom sometimes develops in a <\/span><b>parallel criminal trial of the suspects<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the news studios.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To counter it, this issue was raised before the Supreme Court in &#8220;<\/span><b>R.K. Anand v. Registrar, Delhi High Court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; and the Apex Court, for the very first time, noted that a concurrent trial by the media has<\/span><b> no legal standing in our judicial system <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as it creates a conflict between the right to &#8220;<\/span><b>free speech and expression&#8221; and the &#8220;right to a fair trial<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, in a later ruling, the<\/span><b> Delhi High Court clarified<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that if both of these rights came into conflict, then the <\/span><b>former would be given primacy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over the other viewing the larger public interest<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Press Freedom:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Prior to this, considering that unfettered freedom of speech and expression would be equivalent to providing unrestricted permission, the <\/span><b>Apex Court in &#8220;Re.: Harijai Singh&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has voiced that <\/span><b>press freedom is neither total nor infinite<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If it were left entirely unrestricted, even somewhat, it would cause calamity and turmoil.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fundamental Right:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In another significant ruling titled <\/span><b>&#8220;R. Rajagopal v. State of Tamil Nadu&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Supreme Court clarified that <\/span><b>Article 19(1) ensures freedom of speech and expression<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which also covers the right to freedom of the press.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But this privilege is subject to <\/span><b>reasonable constraints <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as Article 19(2) expressly lists <\/span><b>decency and defamation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as two of the grounds to curtail the rights of the media.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reporting Legal Proceedings: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The renowned Public Interest Litigation case known by the name of &#8220;<\/span><b>Nilesh Navalakha v. Union of India&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was the first occasion when any court established standards on how media publications and networks should <\/span><b>report legal proceedings.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fundamental Directives:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Court issued several norms which include the following fundamental directives:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>privacy and dignity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the victim must always be respected;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>sensitive information <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">related to the case should never be made public.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>confession\/admission <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">made in front of an investigator cannot published;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> interviews of anyone<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who is connected to the case may not be undertaken when the matter is sub-judice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It stated some other observations at the conclusion of the judgment such as the press must deliver <\/span><b>news stories in their genuine and accurate form.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It must include the account of the events as it was honestly recorded, <\/span><b>without exaggeration or bias, and any form of distortion.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The incidence should <\/span><b>not be overemphasised<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the sake of gaining more and more viewers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Recommendations<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Guideline:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The guidelines given by the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/law-commission-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">17th Law Commission<\/a> <\/b>in its 200th Report <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">titled &#8220;Trial by Media: Free Speech and Fair Trial under Criminal Procedure Code, 1973&#8221; must be strictly adhered to.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Statutes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Important statutes such as &#8220;<\/span><b>Prasar Bharti Act, 1990<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;, and the &#8220;<\/span><b>Cable Networks Act, 1995<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;, must be updated so that their stipulations do not remain a mere formality in this digital era.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Compulsory Regulations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The &#8220;<\/span><b>Press Council of India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; and the &#8220;<\/span><b>News Broadcasting Standards Authority<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; should make their regulations compulsory rather than making it discretionary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Media As Watchdog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: In a democracy, the <\/span><b>press acts as a watchdog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to make sure that every trial is done <\/span><b>truthfully, openly, and thoroughly.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, this watchdog frequently <\/span><b>forgets its pious duty <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and diverts from the path. Sometimes, it<\/span><b> itself becomes the judge <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and runs a <\/span><b>kangaroo court to convict a suspect.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To control this, it is imperative that the <\/span><b>press refrain from abusing its freedom<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and undermining the core principles of criminal law.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Press must understand that the <\/span><b>freedom is a duty that requires the truth<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and only truth, to be shared with the people. Through this way only, the media would <\/span><b>perform its original duty towards the nation.<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 99.8996%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<div class=\"vc_main_title\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>UPSC Main Answer Writing Practice:<\/strong> <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/analyse-the-concept-of-media-trials-and-their-impact-on-the-right-to-a-fair-trial-discuss-the-measures-to-balance-free-speech-and-the-administration-of-justice-and-the-role-of-media-self-regulat-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Analyse the concept of \u201cmedia trials\u201d and their impact on the right to a fair trial. Discuss the measures to balance free speech and the administration of justice, and the role of media self-regulation. (15 Marks, 250 Words)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.131%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 36px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 5755.76%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 36px;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 54.4983%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NCERT Notes For UPSC<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 5701.26%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/daily-current-affairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Daily Current Affairs<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 54.4983%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/blogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Blogs<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 5701.26%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Daily Editorials<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 54.4983%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 5701.26%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Main Answer Writing<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 54.4983%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-previous-year-papers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 5701.26%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-test-series-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Test Series 2024<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Supreme Court (SC) of India ordered the Union Home Affairs Ministry to develop a thorough Standard operation Procedure within three months on the subject matter of press conferences given by police officials in criminal cases.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":111170,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[],"subject":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/110926"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/editorial-analysis"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110926"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/110926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110969,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/110926\/revisions\/110969"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110926"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=110926"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=110926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}