The Supreme Court on Monday declined to pass any interim order on the plea of a Muslim body seeking to restrain a section of media from allegedly spreading bigotry and communal hatred by linking the spread of coronavirus with the recent Nizamuddin Markaz incident, saying it would “not gag the press”.
The apex court also asked Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, which hasalleged that a section of media is spreading communal hatred over last month’sTablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, to implead the Press Council of India(PCI) as a party to the case.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, whichheard the matter through video-conference, said it would not pass any interimorder in the matter at this stage and posted the plea for hearing after twoweeks.
“We will not gag the press,” the bench, alsocomprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and M M Shantanagoudar, told the counselappearing for the petitioner.
The bench was hearing a plea filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hindwhich has sought directions to the Centre to stop dissemination of “fakenews” and take strict action against those responsible for it.
The plea has alleged that unfortunate incident of TablighiJamaat was being used to “demonise” and blame the entire Muslimcommunity.
During the hearing on Monday, the counsel appearing for thepetitioner claimed that media reporting and government reports are constantlytalking about Tablighi spreading coronavirus in the country.
“We think you add the Press Council of India as a partyto the case,” the bench said, adding, “Press Council of India is anecessary party to the case. Implead them and thereafter we will hearthis”.
When the petitioner’s counsel claimed that people were beingattacked because of media reports, the bench observed, “We want to makesolid long term measures about the news items. Once we take cognizance peoplewill understand.”
“If it is a question of killing or defamation, thenyour remedy lies somewhere else. But if it is a question of larger reporting,then Press Council of India has to be made a party,” the bench said.
The plea has sought directions to the Centre to stopdissemination of fake news and take strict action against the section of themedia spreading bigotry and communal hatred in relation to the NizamuddinMarkaz issue.
“It is submitted that such reporting has triggeredcommunal antagonism and has also perpetrated hatred, resulting in fissiparoustendencies gaining foothold, undermining and affecting communal harmony,”the plea has said.
The petition further stated that this”demonisation” of the community has led to serious “threat tolife and liberty of Muslims”, and has thus led to the violation of their”right to life under Article 21″ of the Constitution.
It has also sought direction to all sections of media tostrictly comply with the Supreme Court directions asking them to maintainstrong sense of responsibility and ensure that unverified news is notdisseminated.