New Delhi:
Freedom of expression is among the most abused freedoms in recent times, the Supreme Court said today in a case related to media reports about Tablighi Jamaat’s gathering at a Delhi mosque in violation of virus restrictions. The high court also reprimanded the government for causing a junior officer to present what it called an “extremely offensive and brazen” response.
“Freedom of expression is one of the most abused freedoms in recent times,” commented the Chief Justice, SA Bobde, during a hearing on petitions calling for action against the media for “spreading hatred” for the meeting. of Tablighi in Markaz Nizamuddin. The March meeting generated a lot of controversy as it became a coronavirus super-spreader with many cases across the country linked to those who had attended the meeting.
The center has defended the media in this case and said in its response to the Supreme Court that there was “no case of misinformation.” The Supreme Court stopped the center on its affidavit and said it “must report cases of misinformation to us” and what action had been taken.
The government has been asked to present another sworn statement, this time from the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on the request for action against some television channels.
“You cannot treat this court the way it is treating you. A junior officer has filed the affidavit. His affidavit is evasive and says that the petitioner does not show any cases of wrongdoing. You may not agree, But how can you say that there is no case of bad report is shown, “questioned the Chief Justice.
Referring to the petition citing alleged cases of fake news about Tablighi Jamaat members, Judge Bobde said: “The Registrar must tell us what he thinks of the incidents reported by the petitioner. We find him extremely elusive. The affidavit makes no response. to the complaints made by the petitioners on some television channels spreading hate. “
Calling for a new review, the Chief Justice said sternly that the new affidavit “must not make unnecessary and senseless dislikes.”
The Supreme Court said it would take the case after two weeks.
The petitions were submitted by Jamiat-Ulema-I-Hind and others.
In addition to the Chief Justice, the court included Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. They heard the case through video-link.
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