The Delhi High Court on Monday asked media houses AGR Outlier Media and Bennett Coleman and Company to ensure that no defamatory content is uploaded on social media or displayed on their channels while hearing a plea by Bollywood producers seeking to restrain them from making irresponsible remarks.
In strong observations, while hearing the plea, the high court cited the death of Princess Diana while trying to escape the media chase, and said there needs to be "some toning down" as people are "afraid of the fourth pillar of democracy" because of its powers. The court sought replies from Republic TV, its editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and reporter Pradeep Bhandari, Times Now editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar and group editor Navika Kumar, and intermediaries Google, FB and Twitter on the plea.
Leading Bollywood producers have sought to restrain them from making or publishing allegedly “irresponsible, derogatory and defamatory remarks" against the film industry and conducting media trials against its members on various issues following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The lawsuit by 4 Bollywood industry associations and 34 producers, has also sought to restrain them from interfering with the right to privacy of persons associated with the industry. Justice Rajiv Shakdher was assured by the counsel for the media houses that they will follow the programme code and the Cable TV Networks (Regulation Act)
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