Supreme Court seeks Centre's response in PIL seeking directions for controlling actions of "uncontrolled" broadcast channels

The Supreme Court today issued notice in petition seeking directions to the Centre to restrict the activities of "unregulated, uncontrolled" broadcasting channels from "assassinating dignity of individuals" under the guise of press freedom (Reepak Kansal v. Union of India)..The Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde with Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued notice in the PIL filed by Advocate Reepak Kansal, and fixed the next date of hearing for after four weeks..The petition filed through Advocate on Record Harisha SR seeks to protect the right to life with dignity as guaranteed under the Constitution of India..Direct Centre to control "uncontrolled" Broadcasting Electronic News Channels: Plea in SC.Urging for greater regulation of such media, the petition states,"The question of the Legal control over electronic broadcasting sources i.e. like radio, television and internet protocol television is a topic to be pondered over in recent times in India, especially when there is circulation of fake news, bad journalism or hate speeches in the name of journalism and which also became a plate-form to assassinate the dignity of an individual or religious and political organizations. The live debates and reporting on the electronic broadcasting channels cannot be stopped until unless it would be regulated by statutory body.".The plea also prays for the constitution of an independent authority to be known as the "Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India" for the purpose of regulating and facilitating the development of broadcasting services in India..Kansal, who was recently fined for ₹100 for leveling allegations against the Supreme Court Registry, has stated that electronic broadcasting channels claiming to be news channels/press have been spreading negativity and enmity among different communities of the nation..Referring to Editor-in-Chief of Republic News, Arnab Goswami, Kansal's petition notes that the news anchor uses defamatory and provoking language against the community, panellists, their religion in the name of journalism during his TV debates..The petitioner adds, "The said Anchor called attackers as ‘Sonia Ke Gunde” etc and assassinate the dignity of individual as well as political party. There are numbers of FIRs are registered against him across country prior and after the said false and baseless reporting on public plate-form.".Read Order: