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A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking establishment of an independent, regulatory Media Tribunal for expeditious hearings of complaints filed by viewers against media businesses. The plea is filed by Film Producer Nilesh Navlakha through Advocates Rajesh Inamdar, Shashwat Anand and Amit Paihas submitted that the importance of the tribunal is necessary in order to maintain balance between the right to freedom of speech and expression of the media and the adjoining right to information of the citizens and right to dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.
"Over the last few years, Media Trials, hate speech, propaganda news, paid news, have become the order of the day, thereby impeding the right to a fair trial of victims and right to fair and proportionate reporting. It is submitted that reckless reportage by the Electronic Media without accountability can, by no stretch of imagination, be read into the right to freedom of speech and expression enjoyed by the Electronic Media, " the petition states.
It is submitted that the exercise of power by the Electronic Media without any accountability is severely detrimental to the due process of law, and contrary to the rule of law.