HC seeks reply from Republic TV, Times Now on Bollywood producers' plea

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued summonses to various media channels including Times Now and Republic TV on a petition filed by four Bollywood associations and 34 producers and asked these outlets to come up with a reasonable solution for improvement in standards of news reportingThe petitioners have sought a restraint on news channels from making or publishing what they dubbed as irresponsible derogatory and defamatory remarks against Hindi film industry and its membersJustice Rajiv Shakdhar sought the responses from media channels and posting the matter for further hearing on December 14While the court was hearing the matter through videoconference petitioners counsel Rajiv Nayar submitted that it all started with the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput which became murder then Bollywood became criminal then drug peddlers and now ISIlinked This is the course of this defamation complaint he saidHe prayed that objectionable content be removed from the social media platforms like YouTube and Twitter What I want immediately is that the scurrilous stuff that has gone on Youtube and Twitter be removed immediately Nayar pleaded before the courtSenior Advocate Akhil Sibal who also appeared on behalf of Bollywood entities submitted that theres a disjunct between the normative idea of journalism and the work done by a certain section of TV mediaCourts have traditionally in the past expressed the hope about selfregulation autocourse correction So they have been circumspect But the point is it course correction is not taking place he addedSibal argued that the Press cannot convict anyone Evidence is scrutinised by the court not by the media channels he remarkedThere is a statutory scheme under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act which these channels are bound to abide by he submittedThe court questioned Why havent they Bollywood celebs become a party to this suit themselves Since they are aggrieved they should approach individually It said that this shows that these individuals are hesitant in claiming damagesThe High Court also questioned news channels what should be done to improve reporting standards If you are not exercising selfrestraint then what shall we do Your undertaking before the courts are not working too the court observedThe blackandwhite Doordarshan era was much better I feel it addedPeople are scared about the Fourth Estate Even if the issue regarding the privacy of public figures is diluted you news channels cannot drag their personal lives into the public domain said Justice Rajiv ShakdharThe petitioners have urged the court to see that the defendants abide by the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994 and to withdraw recall and take down all defamatory content published by them against BollywoodThis comes in the wake of alleged use of words and expressions like dirt filth scum and druggies it is Bollywood where the dirt needs to be cleaned all the perfumes of Arabia cannot take away the stench and the stink of this filth and scum of the underbelly of Bollywood this is the dirtiest industry in the country and cocaine and LSDdrenched Bollywood by these channelsThe privacy of members of Bollywood was getting invaded the plea contended and their reputations irreparably damaged as the entire industry was painted as criminals seeped in drug culture To be a part of Bollywood was painted as synonymous with criminal acts in the public imagination the petitioners saidKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever