Supreme Court Dissatisfied With Centre’s Affidavit Over Media Reporting Of Tablighi Congregation

The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed displeasure over the Centre’s affidavit in the case related to media reporting of Tablighi Jamaat congregation during the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, and said it should consider setting up a regulatory mechanism to deal with such content on TV.

The apex court asked the Centre to create and apprise it of the mechanism.

“First you did not file a proper affidavit and then you filed an affidavit which did not deal with the two important questions. This way it cannot be done Mr Mehta,” a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

“Mr Mehta, we are not satisfied with your reply,” the top court



said.

"We need to know concerning what is the instrument to manage these substance on TV. In the event that there is no administrative component, at that point you make one. Guideline can't be left to association like NBSA," said the seat, likewise including Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. 

The seat, which was hearing the supplications recorded by Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind and others asserting that a part of the media was spreading shared disdain over Tablighi Jamaat gathering during the beginning of pandemic, requested that the Center document a new oath managing instrument to direct electronic media under the Cable TV Network Act. 

The top court has posted the issue for hearing following three weeks.