By Justice Katju
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
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 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 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
I have commented on the irresponsible behaviour of the Indian media in the article below
It now transpires that the Supreme Court had not recommended Justice Verma’s transfer.
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
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
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
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leveson_Inquiry
A poignant comment by Justice Markandey Katju. Extremely shameful for the Indian media.