Media must confine itself to honest journalism and not use it as a tool to expand its influence and business interests, said Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana on Tuesday. Ramana said a media house with "other business interests" becomes vulnerable to external pressures and often business interests prevail over the spirit of independent journalism which compromises democracy.
Asserting that independent journalism is the "backbone of democracy”, the CJI –a former journalist— also urged the stakeholders to introspect why the standards here are not considered good enough for international recognition and laurel in the field of journalism.
He was speaking at launch of Gulab Chand Kothari's book titled 'The Gita Vijnana Upanishad'. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla presided over event. Last week, the CJI had raised similar concerns and said “agenda driven debates” and “kangaroo courts” being run by media are detrimental to health of democracy.
These recent remarks by Ramana assume significance following backlash to a verdict earlier this month on former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's comments on Prophet Mohammad, which Supreme Court said stoked communal tension across country.