"Need Of The Hour Is To Regulate Web-based Digital Media First As It Is Completely Uncontrolled": Centre Tells SC In Sudarshan TV Case [Read Affidavit]

The Central Government has urged the Supreme Court to not lay down any guidelines for the regulation of mainstream electronic and print media, and to leave the same to be dealt with by the competent legislature. At the same time the Centre has submitted that there is absolutely no check on the web based digital media It is also relevant to note that in case of a electronic and print media, the security of the nation is also taken care of at the time of the registration and / or grant of license to the company or the organization intending to publish or broadcast either newspaper or a news-channel. Centre submitted that if the Court considers it necessary to lay down guidelines for the mainstream electronic and print media, it is the need of the hour that this Court starts the said exercise first with "web based digital media" which includes "web magazines" and "web-based news channels" and "web-based news-papers" as the same not only has a very wide reach but is completely uncontrolled. The Government has submitted, "It is, therefore, in the interest of justice and appropriate that either this Hon'ble Court may leave wider issues to be considered and decidedly the Central Government and the competent legislature or starts with the exercise with an examination of the very same issues in the context of digital media." 'Regulate Digital Media First Since It Has Wider Reach Than TV And Electronic Media': Centre tells SC In Plea Against Sudarshan TV's "UPSC Jihad' Show The Court has been informed that the Ministry has an institutional mechanism of an Inter-Ministerial Committee which looks at complaints either suo moto or when brought before it.