STEPS OF SC IN CURBING UNNECESSARY FAKE NEWS
The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its recent judgment given jointly in AlakhAlok Srivastava Vs. Union of India in WP (Civil) No. 468/2020 and in WP (Civil) No. 469/2020, categorically pointed out the steps taken by Central Government and various State Governments/Union Territories to set up relief camps to house the Migrant Laborers and provide them with basic amenities like food, medicines, drinking water etc and more importantly gave directions to curb the spread of fake news which was on the rise in the wake of the pandemic Covid-19.
Facts and Observations:
- The Petitioners (practicing SC Advocates) had highlighted the plight of thousands of migrant labourers who along with their families were walking hundreds of kilometers from their work place to reach their villages/towns.
- Based on the reply of the learned Solicitor General appearing for the Respondent it is given to understand that 21,064 relief camps have been set up by various State Governments/Union Territories where the migrant labourers have been shifted and they are being provided with basic amenities like food, medicines, drinking water, etc. According to the Status Report, 6,66,291 persons have been provided shelters and 22,88,279 persons have been provided food.
- It was informed that there is no person walking on the roads in an attempt to reach his/her home towns/villages and that all the migrant labourers who were on the road have been shifted to relief camps/shelter homes which are set up at various points in each State/Union Territory.
- The Hon’ble directed the Union of India to deal with the migrants in a humane manner and asked the State Governments/Union Territories to engage volunteers along with the police to supervise the welfare activities of the migrants.
- The Hon’ble Supreme Court observed that the migration of large number of laborers working in the cities was triggered by panic created by fake news that the lock down would continue for more than three months. Such panic driven migration has caused untold suffering to those who believed and acted on such news.
- The Hon’ble Bench further observed that any person who makes or circulates a false alarm or warning which leads to panic will be punished in accordance with Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The Bench also observed that any disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant would result in punishment under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
- The Bench also directed that Media should maintain a strong sense of responsibility and ensure that no unverified news gets circulated.
- A daily bulletin by the Government of India through all media avenues including social media and forums to clear the doubts of people to be implemented as submitted by the Solicitor General of India.
Conclusion:
This judgment comes as a strict measure to curtail the spread of fake news that spreads across the length and breadth of the Country with respect to the COVID -19 pandemic as the same creates unnecessary panic and severely affects the mental health of the people reading/hearing the same. With this order it is believed that the spread of fake news would be reduced thus enabling the country to look to fight this deadly virus in unity, without undue panic hindering the same.