The Supreme Court of India remarked that television channels’ debates or discussions on matters which are within the domain of criminal courts would be considered direct interference in the administration of criminal justice.
The SC bench said that the matters associated with a particular crime and the conclusive evidence related to the same must be dealt with the help of the court of law and not through TV channels.
The SC’s observation came while considering criminal appeals filed by four accused who were convicted of robbery, and added that the judgement from the Trial Court was formed based on the DVD played, which was a confession statement to the investigation agency.
The court observed that DVDs recorded by the investigating agency were played and telecast on Telugu television channel Udaya TV.
The SC bench stated that allowing a DVD to go into the hands of a private TV channel so that it could be played and published in a programme is nothing but a dereliction of duty and direct interference in the administration of justice. All matters relating to the crime and whether a particular thing happens to be a conclusive piece of evidence must be dealt with by a court of law and not through a TV channel.
