Brief of Umar Khalid’s plea for restraining Media - Vrankers Judiciary

Brief of Umar Khalid’s plea for restraining Media 

Quick Brief of the order passed by the #Delhi High Court on the application of #UmarKhalid slamming media on publishing news without verifying the facts.

1. The court was considering an application filed by the #JNU student leader Umar Khalid who is under custody since September 14, 2020 complaining about media campaign that he has confessed his involvement in the #CommunalRiots which took place in February 2020 in North East Delhi. 

2. The court took an objection on a news titled...”Radical Islamist and Anti Hindu Delhi Riots accused Umar Khalid”. The court observed that the said news item portrays the entire Delhi riots as #AntiHinduRiots. However, in fact this does not appear to be the case, as all the communities have felt the consequences of those riots. Such news item might show to the public at large that the accused Umar Khalid had in fact confessed/admitted his role in Delhi riots. However, it is the duty of the judicial system to decide a case on merits after trial. 

3. The court mentioned that the main principle of criminal jurisprudence is the #Presumption of innocence. The media is capable enough to mobilise thoughts of the population and thus court cautioned that the ‘#Media Trial’ cannot destroy the presumption of innocence which is the essence of the Criminal jurisprudence. 

4. Since Umar Khalid did not make any prayer the court does not mention any specific direction for that however a general appeal is made that media should exercise ‘#Self Regulation’. 

5. Court stressed on the Rights guaranteed under #Part III of the #Constitution which is the #Fundamental Rights under #Article21 mentioned that- “Any act of the Media which might deprive the accused of his dignity would have an adverse effect on his rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India.” 

6. The court also mentioned that the #Reporters should have basic knowledge of law and should know that a #Confessional statement is not admissible as #Evidence in law and they should also inform this to the ordinary citizen too while reporting. 

7. The court concluded that - “Any news item should be published after verifying and clarifying all the facts related to the said news item.”