Character Assassination

We Indians are excellent experts in character assassination. On daily basis we see and hear fake news made to believe or appear to be true.  All negative news propaganda unleashed by social media, print and visual media have tremendous impact on forming public opinion when the actual truth is suppressed for selfish agenda.

We lack decency to leave such sensitive issues to be dealt by law enforcing agencies. The daily gossips and debates are without any credible substance.  Indian media believes and thrives on bad news since bad news is good news as it facilitates their TPR ratings. The Country needs to amend the defamation law such that any false reporting or maligning the reputation of a person should be a non-bail able offence and rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years with heavy fine imposed. The fundamental right to free speech should not be used for character assassination. Even the Supreme Court had ruled that right to free speech was not an absolute right. Protection of reputation is a fundamental right and human right too. Every Indian has equal right to liberty, self-respect and dignity according to the Article 21 of the Constitution of India. By indulging in unwanted and cooked up stories to malign others is bad and has irreversible damages to the alleged accused person’s reputation in the society.

The media should wait for the courts judgments. Media should stop sensationalisation of incidents or at least keep it to the minimum reasonable level. Tremendous psychological pressure is created in the minds of judges and other law enforcement agencies to turn the outcome one sided without going to the merit of the case. An innocent person may be likely impacted due to wrong media trial. Some high profile elites, religious persons and people in power are more vulnerable to be blackmailed. So, care should be taken to have dignified reporting.

There are instances where political pressure and money power has influenced decisions or have diluted the cases. The media should look into such aspect and carry out investigative journalism to bring out new evidence which can be placed on records in order to strengthen the case of the victims.