The Government may soon come out with guidelines for media coverage of terror-related operations, Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Arun Jaitley said on Sunday. He also called for greater caution in reporting of sub-judice matters and disapproved of the tendency to hold trial by media in high-profile cases.
“The issue is under serious and very advanced consideration of the Government,” he said while delivering the first “Justice JS Verma Memorial lecture” on “Freedom & Responsibility of Media”, organised by the News Broadcasters’ Association (NBA), on Sunday.
The I&B Minister said that Intelligence agencies pointed out that real time coverage of 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai had helped the handlers of terrorists to get information about what the security agencies were doing. “Our security agencies and the Ministry of Defence are clearly of the view that this cannot be allowed.
And, therefore, during the limited duration when the security operation is on, a very strict discipline on the kind of reporting which is to take place from the place of the incident will have to be maintained,” Jaitley added.
On the issue of reporting on sub judice matters, Jaitley asked if the issue of matters being sub judice be completely given a go by. “Media must introspect. It’s not to put a blanket ban on these matters but some trial courts are under tremendous pressure when it’s a high profile case,” he said.
In the backdrop of the case relating to Sunanda Pushkar’s mysterious death and her husband Shashi Tharoor coming under intense media scrutiny, Jaitley said media should introspect on how to report areas where privacy of individuals is involved.
“The privacy of individuals even in high profile cases is also a part of their lives,” Jaitley said, adding that the relations between a husband and wife or their private conversations should be respected.
He also disapproved the tendency among the media to hold parallel trials. This puts pressure on certain trial courts especially in cases where media has almost declared somebody guilty or innocent.
Jaitley also spoke out in solidarity with victims of Charlie Hebdo attack. “While the content of the paper will be debated, the reaction to it is deplorable. Humour journals are supposed to poke fun at people and things,” I&B Minister added.
Jaitley further indicated that the media was no more all powerful. He stressed on how technology has empowered stakeholders in media. He had reached 15 million people, through his blog in the run to 2014 polls which is more than the circulation of any newspaper in the country.
“Through social media, you can now lay down the agenda. To any view the counterview comes immediately. And then it is picked up by the media. It is as if you are running your own newspaper without any cost,” Jaitley said.