Supreme Court slams TV channels for ‘sensationalising news’

The Supreme Court Friday strongly disapproved the conduct of TV channels in sensationalising news and “serving an agenda”. A division bench comprising justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna, while hearing a clutch of pleas seeking to curb hate speech incidents, asked the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) and the central government how such broadcasts could be controlled.

The bench minced no words in observing that such TV channels are creating divide in the society. It also suggested strict action be taken against news anchors indulging in promoting hate speech. The bench further suggested that if hefty penalties are imposed on offending news anchors, they will be aware that they will have to pay a price. “Anchors can be taken off (air) too”, the bench verbally remarked.

“If the anchors of TV programs are themselves part of the problem then what can be done?”, Justice Joseph, speaking for the bench, remarked. The court asked the counsel representing NBDSA as to how many times has it taken off anchors indulging in promoting hate speech. The bench said that the NBDSA should not be biased.


It also disapproved the broadcast by certain TV channels against the individual accused of urinating on a co-passenger in an Air India flight.

Observing that the accused is an “undertrial”, Justice Joseph remarked that “nobody should be denigrated. Everyone has the right to dignity”. Slamming the TV channels, Justice Joseph verbally observed that they are driven by TRP. "Channels are competing against each other.

They sensationalise and create divisions in society because of the visual element. The visual medium can influence you much more than a newspaper,” Justice Joseph said. Adding to this, Justice Nagarathna remarked “we require free and balanced press. Free, but balanced too”.