Indian media has crossed all limits of yellow journalism
The vast majority of the Indian media has crossed all limits of yellow journalism, impropriety, scandal-mongering and spreading fake news, as is evident from its reporting of the incident relating to Justice Yashwant Verma, a Judge of the Delhi High Court.
It was reported by the media that a huge amount of unaccounted cash (some saying Rs 50 crores, some saying Rs 15 crores, etc) was found at the residence of Justice Verma during a fire, and following this the Supreme Court Collegium decided to recommend his transfer to Allahabad High Court.
This news was reported not just in small newspapers and the social media, but also in prominent newspapers like the Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, etc.
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Who is Justice Yashwant Varma? Fire at Delhi High Court judge's bungalow leads to recovery of huge pile of cash
SC Collegium transfers Delhi HC judge after cash recovery at his residence
Who Is Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma, At Centre Of Cash-In-Home Row
Justice Verma enjoys a very high reputation for his integrity and legal knowledge. Yet no one cared to ask him for his version. If the Supreme Court received some material and complaint against him, it should have forwarded copies of the material and complaint to Justice Verma and asked him what he had to say about them, but it is doubtful this was done.
It is a principle of natural justice that no one should be condemned unheard, but this principle seems to have been violated in respect of Justice Verma.
It is a principle of law that a man's reputation is an intangible asset, and to tarnish it without good reason, and without giving him a hearing, may cause him irreparable harm.
But the vast majority of the Indian media seems to care two hoots for this principle. For getting some 'mirch masaala' and for sensationalising an issue ( to increase their circulation, TRP rating, etc ) they are willing to cross all limits of impropriety and yellow journalism, and smear and blacken a person's reputation without the slightest thought of the harm they are doing to that person, even if he is innocent..
This is what was done by the Indian media to Justice Verma. Almost all newspapers, youtubers, websites, etc pounced on him and viciously attacked him, without even asking him for his version, falling head over heels above one another to see whose attack could be more vicious.
Justice Yashwant Varma News: Delhi High Court के जज के घर छिपा था करोड़ों का खजाना! | CJI | SC |
Crores Found at Judge's Home: Is Our Judiciary for Sale? | Ashutosh Speaks Out
Justice Yashwant Varma Cash Case : घर पर लगी आग तो निकल आया खजाना, एक्शन में CJI Sanjiv Khanna | NBT
Judge Cash Controversy I "Why Was Transfer Not Halted?" I Supreme Court I Allahabad HC I Barkha
Unaccounted Cash Discovered at the Residence of Delhi HC Judge Justice Yashwant Varma Last Week
Delhi HC Judge’s House Fire 'Exposes' Cash Pile, Why SC Collegium Transferred Judge To Allahabad HC?
जज के घर पैसे के पहाड़ का वीडियो कहाँ हैं? क्या सच सामने आएगा?
10 Crore Cash At Delhi Judge Home: Arnab On Why SC Collegium and CJI Sanjeev Khanna Made A Mistake
I have commented on the irresponsible behaviour of the Indian media in the article below
Condemning a Man Unheard: Justice Katju Questions Media & SC Collegium on Justice Yashwant Verma's Case
It now transpires that the Supreme Court had not recommended Justice Verma's transfer.
Twist to Justice Yashwant Varma's transfer? Read Supreme Court press release
So the news reported in the Times of India and other prominent newspapers was fake news.
The Delhi Fire Chief has said that no cash was found at Justice Verma's residence
Delhi Fire Services chief says no cash found at Delhi HC judge's residence during firefighting operation
No Cash Found At High Court Judge's Home During Fire-Fighting Op: Delhi Fire Chief
So the news that a huge amount of cash was found at Justice Verma's residence was also fake news
I have given 3 video interviews on this topic
SC & Fire dept. trying to cover up the story of 50Cr cash pile recovered from Justice Yashwant Varma
You Won't Believe the SHOCKING Truth About Justice Varma
Judge का नहीं वो 50 करोड़... पूर्व जज Katju को Amit Shah पर है शक ?
In my opinion, the time has now come to regulate the Indian media in the public interest, as recommended in England in the Leveson Committee report, and the freedom it enjoys be restricted, as it frequently grossly abuses such freedom, as it did in respect of Justice Verma
(Justice Markandey Katju is a former Judge, of the Supreme Court of India, and former Chairman, of the Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own)
