In the case of Sudarshan TV, an intervention application has been filed by Sunil Fernandes, Adv-on-record on behalf of Dr. Kota Neelima and Sangeeta Tyagi. The application sought to describe media trails as a face of hate speech.
This application was filed in the plea seeking a pre-broadcasting injunction of the program titled Bindas Bol on a News channel named Sudarshan.
The application shows a graphical analysis of 4 TV Anchors alleging that they have been conducting debates in such a way that it could be seen as a Hate Speech.
The application talks about that through an independent research platform, Dr. Neelima has analyzed the topics of debates on TV done by "two renowned journalists i.e. Arnab Goswami and Ms. Navika Kumar, who have been engaging themselves in conducting 'Media Trials'.
The application submits that "The study of the work of both the journalists, shows that "65% of the total debates conducted by Mr. Arnab Goswami from 31.07.2020 to 15.09.2020, and 69% of the total debates conducted by Ms. Navika Kumar from 16.06.2020 to 06.10.2020 were on a singular topic i.e. Sushant Singh Rajput Death Case".
Further, it submits that “apart from the overwhelming and inordinate amount of time being devoted to a single topic, the manner, tone, tenor and content of the 'News Coverage and TV Debate was highly toxic, polarised and filled with innuendos, salacious gossips, wild allegations, and character assassinations".
The application states that "Media Trial is another facet of Hate Speech. Media Trials can take place for a variety of reasons, for instance, it can be in order to grab a higher share of Television Rating Points (TRPs) or it can be something more sinister whereby certain private television channels act as a proxy propaganda machine for the Central Government"
The application prays to allow the applicants to put forth the detailed analysis done by the applicants on the media trial on record.
The application states that “The headlines of the news debate are a cause for concern as it is done with a predetermined agenda under the garb of freedom of the press while comprising the right to a fair trial.”
