SC directs media to publish official version about coronavirus developments

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 1

Expressing serious concern over circulation of fake news that allegedly caused panic among migrant workers leading to their mass exodus from cities to their native places, the Supreme Court has directed media platforms to publish government version about COVID-19 crisis.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde directed the Centre to arrange for within 24 hours bringing out a daily bulletin through all media avenues, including social media and forums to clear the doubts of people.

“We do not intend to interfere with the free discussion about the pandemic, but direct the media refer to and publish the official version about the developments,” the Bench said on Tuesday while hearing PILs on plight of migrant workers marching towards their villages.

A day after the SC order, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Wednesday issued an Office Memorandum and sent the order to the National Broadcasters Association, National Broadcasting Foundation and Press Council of India, besides Prasar Bharati and other government media organisations.

Centre’s Status Report says the exodus of migrant labourers was triggered due to panic created by some fake/misleading news and social media reports

“The migration of large number of labourers working in the cities was triggered by panic created by fake news that the lock down would continue for more than three months,” it said.

“We are informed that the labourers who are unemployed due to lock down were apprehensive about their survival. Panic was created by some fake news that the lockdown would last for more than three months,” the Bench said after the Centre’s Status Report said the exodus of migrant labourers was triggered due to panic created by some fake/misleading news and social media reports.

“Such panic driven migration has caused untold suffering to those who believed and acted on such news. In fact, some have lost their lives in the process,” the top court said, adding, it was “not possible for us to overlook this menace of fake news either by electronic, print or social media”.

Noting that Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 provided for punishment to a person who made or circulated a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic, it said, “Such person shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine.”

Disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant would result in punishment under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. An advisory which is in the nature of an order made by the public authority attracts section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, it said.

“We trust and expect that all concerned viz., State Governments, Public Authorities and Citizens of this country will faithfully comply with the directives, advisories and orders issued by the Union of India in letter and spirit in the interest of public safety.

“In particular, we expect the Media (print, electronic or social) to maintain a strong sense of responsibility and ensure that unverified news capable of causing panic is not disseminated,” the top court said.

In its Status Report, the Centre had referred to an advisory issued by it on March 24 to the authorities to effectively deal with rumour mongering. It had requested the top court to issue directions to prevent fake and inaccurate reporting—whether intended or not, either by electronic print or social media which will cause panic in the society.