News
India's Supreme Court Considers Curbing Police Media Bias via Social Media
India's Supreme Court is weighing measures to prevent police from creating bias against accused individuals through media briefings, including social media posts. The court suggested awaiting guidelines for police media briefings and considering a comprehensive mechanism for police, conventional media, and social media.
The Supreme Court is concerned about police uploading videos online, which poses a threat to a fair trial. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) argued that the court had already asked states to create guidelines for police briefings to media, which would also cover social media posts. Justice Bagchi suggested the petitioner await the outcome of those guidelines. The senior counsel flagged the recent trend of police posting images of accused persons being handcuffed, tied by ropes, paraded, and forced to kneel on social media, causing affront to personal dignity and adding to public bias. Justice Bagchi observed that police briefings to the media must be responsible and reasonable and must not be exposed to bias because, in a criminal justice system, the investigating agency is neither pro-victim nor pro-accused.
Key Facts
- The Supreme Court is considering a mechanism for police, conventional media, and social media.
- The court noted the need for responsible and reasonable police briefings to the media to avoid bias.
- The court acknowledged the need to restrain police through standard operating procedure.
- A PIL argued states were previously asked to create guidelines for police briefings to media, covering social media posts.
- The court observed that every person with a mobile phone has become media.
- The court noted the trend of police posting images of accused persons on social media, causing affront to personal dignity and adding to public bias.
- The court observed that TV channels are comparatively more restrained, even though one might disagree with their views.