Producing Victims & Suspects Before Media By Police Violates Article 21 & Encourages Media Trials: Madhya Pradesh High Court

In a significant ruling, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday held that production of victims and suspects before the media, as well as disclosure of personal information of the suspects to the media or display of their photographs in newspapers or on any digital platform is violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The Court also observed, "By producing the victims and suspects before the media, the police not only violates the fundamental rights of the suspect as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India but also encourages the media trials." Court's Final Order The Court said, "In exercise of suo motu power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, clause 6B, 8 and 11 of the circular dated 2-1-2014 issued by the Director-General of Police, State of Madhya Pradesh, so far as it relates to the production of victims and suspects before the media, as well as disclosure of personal information of the suspects to the media or display of their photographs in newspapers or on any digital platform are hereby quashed being violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India." Further, the Court said, parading of suspects in general public is also held to be violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.