New Delhi: Hearing the defamation suit against the website -The Wire, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra today strongly criticized electronic media.
Speaking on the case, CJI said, “We respect freedom of the press but it has to act responsibly. Electronic media can’t think they become Popes overnight,” expressing disapproval over media’s lack of responsibility in general and held the next hearing on 12 April.
The Wire had earlier published an article “The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah”, based on documentary evidence on BJP Chief Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah in which the Wire had alleged reported Jay shah’s company’s turnover which grew by multiple times since BJP came to power in 2014.
Questioning media about journalism, CJI said, “Many in electronic media think they can write anything. Whatever cites your imagination can you write anything and get away? Can some people sit on the pulpit and write anything? Is that journalism?”
Adding that though he agrees to freedom of press, “how can anyone start speaking anything about anyone? There are limits. How can you comment on anyone whatever you like?”
Earlier In January, Gujarat High Court had rejected the Wire’s petition to cancel the defamation suit against the Website and its editors filed by Jay Shah.
The High Court hearing the case held the case as “the most disturbing part of the article”, which can be “prima facie termed as defamatory” for linking Jay shah’s firm turnover with the election of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, NDTV reported.