pressMeet-by-police

In 2023 The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to prepare a comprehensive manual on media briefings by police personnel within a period of three months. The bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice Manoj Misra also directed Director Generals of Police (DGPs) of all states to submit their suggestions for the manual.

The court also took note that the investigating agencies are using Pess-meet to “airing personal view”  and “view of the government or rulling political party” through media.  

The court also told that the print and electronic media had published news ites with ornamentations and embellishments to the accused’s rights.

Additionally, the court directed that the input of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) be considered in this matter. 

There is a guidelines of the government of India on the same

The Court went on to quote two Supreme Court judgments on the issue i.e., Rajendran Chingaravelu v. RK Mishra and Romila Thapar and Others v. Union of India.
In Rajendran Chingaravelu, the Supreme Court had held “Premature disclosures or ‘leakage’ to the media in a pending investigation will not only jeopardise and impede further investigation but many a time, allow the real culprit to escape from law.”

Further in Romila Thapar, the Supreme Court had expressed its dismay at police disclosures stating, “police briefings to the media have become a source of manipulating public opinion by besmirching the reputations of individuals involved in the process of investigation. What follows is unfortunately a trial by the media. That the police should lend themselves to this process is matter of grave concern…”

Bloggers’ Comment;

• Police use media platforms to sensetionalised the matter.

• Police use media platforms to exterior motives and worngful gain.

• Police use media platforms to advertise itself as a protector of the socoeity and to coverup it’s own sin.

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