"You are taking our democracy two steps backward," CJI slams trial by media
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New Delhi: In a searing criticism, Chief Justice of India NV Ramanda on Friday said that several media organizations in the country are running Kangaroo courts and called their behavior "biased", "ill-informed" and "agenda-driven".
Justice Ramana said the media often passes verdicts on issues that even experienced judges find difficult to decide.
"Of late, we see media running kangaroo courts, at times on issues even experienced judges find difficult to decide. Ill-informed and agenda-driven debates on issues involving justice delivery are proving to be detrimental to the health of democracy," he said while speaking at an event at the Jharkhand high court in Ranchi.
"There are concerted campaigns in social media against judges. Judges may not react immediately. Please don't mistake it to be a weakness or helplessness," Justice Ramana said.
"New media tools have the enormous amplifying ability but appear to be incapable of distinguishing between the right and the wrong, the good and the bad and the real and the fake," the Chief Justice said.
"Ill-informed and agenda-driven debates on issues involving justice delivery are proving to be detrimental to the health of democracy," he added.
The Chief Justice said biased views being spread by the media were weakening democracy and harming the system. "In this process, justice delivery gets adversely affected," he said.
"By overstepping and breaching your responsibility, you are taking our democracy two steps backwards," Justice Ramana said.
Print media still has a certain degree of accountability, the top judge said, adding, "Whereas electronic media has zero accountability as what it shows vanishes into thin air. Still, worse is social media."
Urges the media to self-regulate, he said, "It is best for the media to self-regulate and measure their words. I urge electronic and social media to behave responsibly. Electronic media should rather use their voice to educate people and energise the nation."