TV channels must own the content broadcast by them; they’re responsible for any malicious content
The Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to Navika Kumar, Times Now anchor on whose show the BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma had made certain remarks about the prophet which led to widespread unrest and many human lives were lost. While after the uproar an FIR was filed against the BJP spokesperson on June 8, under IPC Sections 153/153A/153B/295A, the TV anchor wasn’t touched. However, a week later complaint was lodged by a Muslim cleric who accused Sharma and Kumar of intending to outrage the religious feelings of the community. Subsequently, an FIR was registered at Nanalpeth police station, Maharashtra. Navika Kumar and Nupur Sharma were booked under section 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the IPC.The Supreme court protection is timely as Nupur Sharma has already been given that protection. It would have been absurd to arrest the anchor on whose show controversial remarks were made while the person who made those remarks enjoys impunity. Sharma's remark on the Prophet during a TV debate had triggered protests across the country. Many innocent lives were lost in the aftermath. Now the big question is who is responsible for it? Was it Nupur Sharma alone responsible? Or the TV channel that gave her the platform to speak or the moderator who did not stop her (by muting her) from speaking up or all of them should own the responsibility?
Not everything can pass under the garb of freedom of speech and expression. The freedom of the press is also not absolute but it is often taken for granted. If a case is filed against a published story in the newspaper the case is filed not only against the journalist alone but also against the editor and publisher. Going by that logic the anchor, program producer, and channel should be held responsible along with Nupur. The SC has itself said that TV is now all about TRPs. TV journalism as practiced by a plethora of TV channels is irresponsible to the hilt and harps upon theatrics. The choice of the topic of a TV debate, selection of speakers, and timing of the program are carefully chosen to push an agenda and harvest TRPs. The result is most debates on TV are about Hindu Muslim rift rather than on real issues confronting the nation like growth, development, price rise, unemployment, etc. Self-censorship is best but if that doesn't happen then the SC and the government should step in to reign the errant media organisation.