(Dr. Rakkireddy Adireddy)
Freedom of expression is diverse from all other human rights. The 2023 year marks the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day. Three decades have passed since it was proclaimed in1993, in which we have seen substantial progress towards achieving a free press and freedom of expression around the world. The proliferation of independent media in many countries and the rise of digital technology have enabled the free flow of information. Have ever, media freedom of journalists and freedom of expression are increasingly under attack, which impacts the full meaning of other woman’s rights. The international community faces multiple crisis conflicts driving migration, environmental crises, and challenges to the health and well-being of people all around the world. At the same time, disinformation and miss information online and offline proliferate, with a serious impact on the instructions. Underpinning democracy, the rule of law, and human rights: It is exactly to counter this critical situation and threats, that press freedom, safety of journalists, and occurs to information take center stage. The right to freedom of expression. enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration.
Of human rights prerequisite and a driver to the enjoyment of all other human rights:. This year’s special 30th-anniversary celebration of world press freedom Day as independence pluralistic and diverse media is key to the enjoyment of all other human rights.
The flow of the river that is invisible to the eye! Minutes, hours, small and big waves in the flow of time, man’s life goes smoothly. If there is any disturbance in that journey, it is normal for a man to say that time has not come together. Time is not in any way the cause of the hardships that man experiences, except for his efforts and perseverance. One who criticizes time must understand that he has failed to make good use of it. Even if the great men of yesteryear are not physically present today, the good deeds they have done are the ideal of the purity of great men. These are not all the positive results that can be achieved with free and safe interactions. As Google CEO Sundar Pichai has commented, it’s incredibly exciting for all progress. The central government’s Digital India program is to lead people’s lives to a new path of development by using it! Criticism is the iron foot on the media? The Supreme Court cannot deny the principles of natural justice! Center on “Media One” channel
The Supreme Court of India struck down the ban. After achieving independence, many people sacrificed their lives for the establishment of socialism by continuing the constitutional rule and the politics of votes in the elections that are being held for more than seven decades, day by day, the central state governments have enslaved the people. We all know that the evil tradition of dictatorship, despotism, oppression, and domination of people, democrats and opposition is continuing. In this context, the most painful thing is the negligence of our rulers, patronizing attitude, pandering to investors, and oppression of those who questioned India’s glory when we know the extent of it in some sectors according to the global survey.If it ranks 120th in corruption, 110th in hunger, 97th in the implementation of democracy, and 125th in happiness, if we want to know what type of media freedom the central and state governments of this country are oppressing in terms of press freedom, India is 150th in press freedom. It can be understood as a place. It means that freedom of the press is in the worst condition in this country, no more proof is needed! Central ban on Malayali news channel Media
One – Supreme Court’s response:
Malayalam news channel Media One from Kerala state has aired several articles against the CentreThe Central Broadcasting Department has removed the name of Media One from the list of channels allowed by this government. From January 31, 2022, it is known that the center has completely stopped broadcasting that channel. The Kerala High Court upheld the central decision and allowed the channel owners to approach the Supreme Court, which stayed the ban order in March of the same year. Back on April 5, 2023, on the occasion of the Supreme Court bench hearing, the bench under the leadership of CJIDY Chandra Chudu made strong comments on the freedom of the media and questioned how it is reasonable to put an iron foot on the media if it criticizes the government.
- The democrats won the press by striking down the ban imposed by the Supreme Court like a ray of light in the darkness of a car in India where press freedom is in a pitiful state. The court faulted the Union Home Ministry for renewing the license of Sadar News Channel on speculative grounds and made strong remarks that the functioning of the Home Ministry was unusually oppressive. The Supreme Court’s criticism that the attempt by the Union Home Ministry to completely disregard the fundamental rights of citizens in the name of national security is not a proper policy is proof of its hegemonic tendency. Have to say. On this occasion, Supreme Court CJI DY Chandra commented that media freedom is the key to a great democracy, especially if the central government dominates, let’s hope that the media fulfills its responsibility by providing freedom and independence to the press sector. .The Supreme Court erred by saying that the Center could not show sufficient evidence regarding the media ban and could not even present evidence that the channel had terrorist links.
The Supreme Court strongly objected to such evidence being presented to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover, while no evidence should be made available to all parties, but investigative documents cannot be kept secret during public hearingsThe directive to the Center to disclose all matters related to the public appears to be narrow. On the same issue, it is clear that the principles of natural justice cannot be completely denied on the grounds of security, and it is not desirable to keep all the documents related to the investigation completely hidden for any reason, making strong comments on the evidence that the Center has given it in a sealed cover to maintain transparency in legal affairsThe court announced its historic decision striking down the Central ban on Malayali news channel Media One for criticizing the government while delivering the Supreme Court verdict. Media should be protected by the people. - As the media representatives who have to work on behalf of the public at this stage when attacks and murders are commonplace many media representatives for publishing stories that reacted to the anti-people policies of the governments, embezzlement of control forces, land grabs, and corruption, and for strongly resisting them. There is nothing wrong with wanting freedom to be independent. In this regard, such strong verdicts, defending the media on behalf of the people and allowing the freedom and independence of the media, will bring a lot of relief to future generations. The Supreme Court’s strong reaction to the freedom and power rights of the media is considered a victory for the people, especially when young media friends are facing various threats and other attacks as they are willing to work in the media on behalf of the people, adhering to ethics and honest values. (The author is a Faculty Member of Kakatiya University, Warangal)
