Updated: November 9, 2020 1:17:29 pm
The lawsuit filed by four Bollywood industry associations and 34 leading producers, which was filed on October 12, will be heard before Judge Rajiv Shakdher. (Photo: Times Now and Republic)
Asking news outlets to ensure that no defamatory content against Bollywood or any of its members is broadcast, the Delhi High Court said on Monday that it expects fair reporting and media neutrality. The court also said that people are “very afraid of the fourth estate” and asked the news channels to submit written statements in response to the lawsuit brought by thirty-eight major Hindi film associations and production houses against the lawsuits of the media of Bollywood personalities.
“We used to find Doordarshan very stale. I wish Doordarshan to return. Then they had lovely announcers … ”, observed Judge Rajiv Shakdher during the hearing of a lawsuit brought by thirty-eight major Hindu film and production associations. against Republic TV and Times Now for publishing “irresponsible, derogatory and defamatory comments” against the film industry and those who are part of it.
The court said it was necessary to “tone down” and that the media channels were apparently not following the Program Code. “If you (the new channels) don’t follow self-regulation, what can be done about a matter like this? You are prejudging the problems. It is less news and more opinion, ”observed the court.
“It’s disheartening and demoralizing… I mean demoralizing everyone. Today it does not harm us (the judiciary)… suppose tomorrow is your fraternity. Sure, it can be investigated, but it has to be a fair report, ”the court said while addressing a lawyer representing Times Now.
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Noting that people are “very scared” of the fourth estate, the court said that no one wants to have their private life in public. “Surely, these are people who are public figures, so that element of privacy is somewhat diluted… but please look at what happened when the media went after someone like (Princess) Diana. You can not continue that way. The courts are the last to want to interfere…. but what is happening here … is that you don’t want to follow the code? “
The court also commented on the debates being broadcast on the news channels, saying that “there was no courtesy in (his) speech.” “Now I hear that the participants in the debates are using bad words because they get so excited. If you continue to incite them, that’s what happens, “he added.
Those who have moved to the High Court are the Film and Television Producers Guild of India (PGI), the Film and Television Artists Association (CINTAA), the Film and Television Producers Council of India (IFTPC) , The Writers Association (SWA), Aamir Khan Productions, Ad-Labs Films, Ajay Devgn Films, Andolan Films, Anil Kapoor Film and Communication Network, Arbaaz Khan Productions, Ashutosh Gowariker Productions, BSK Network and Entertainment, Cape of Good Films, Clean Slate Filmz, Dharma Productions, Emmay Entertainment & Motion Pictures, Excel Entertainment, Filmkraft Productions, Hope Production, Kabir Khan Films, Luv Films, Macguffin Pictures, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, One India Stories, RS Entertainment (Ramesh Sippy Entertainment), Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures, Red Chillies Entertainment, Reel Life Productions, Reliance Big Entertainment, Rohit Shetty Picturez, Roy Kapur Films, Salman Khan Films, Sikhya Entertainment, Sohail Kha n Productions, Tiger Baby Digital, Vinod Chopra Films, Vishal Bhardw aj Pictures and Yashraj Films.
The petitioners have requested the intervention of the court to ensure that the channels and their journalists comply with the provisions of the Program Code under the 1994 Cable Television Network Rules, and remove, recall and remove all allegedly defamatory content published for them against Bollywood. Seeking instructions to prevent the two channels, Republic TV and Times Now, from conducting “media trials of Bollywood personalities” and interfering with their right to privacy, the lawsuit claims it was filed because the channels used ” words highly expressions ”for the industry.
The channels, he claimed, are conducting and publishing parallel “private investigations” and effectively acting as courts to convict people associated with Bollywood as guilty. “Bollywood is unique and stands on a different foundation from any other industry insofar as it is an industry that relies almost exclusively on the goodwill, appreciation and acceptance of its audience. The livelihood of people associated with Bollywood is being severely affected by the smear campaign carried out by the defendants, ”the lawsuit states.
On Monday, the court postponed hearing the case until December 14.
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