News Channels & Newspapers No Longer Report Facts Properly; Objectivity Sacrificed : Supreme Court Laments

The Supreme Court today criticised the current state of media reportage while dealing with Sakshi TV's allegation that its broadcast has been blocked across Andhra Pradesh at the behest of the state government.Justice PS Narasimha said, “Very unfortunate it is, gone are the days when news channels and newspapers properly report facts. Nobody reports facts. So what gets reported is a slanted fact. You pick up one newspaper you will get one perspective, other newspaper you will get another perspective. We have completely sacrificed the objective fact. Most valuable asset of a country is objective fact. Earlier, we would read any paper, the facts would have been the same. Now you will never get a common fact anywhere. That is the sad part of news channels where objectivity of fact is sacrificed. We have acquired the ability of always filtering news reports and understanding it in the context of which paper has given it. That is actually reflection of the state that we are in.”Justice Narasimha made the observations after the channel's counsel submitted that news channels are perceived as favourable to one government or the other. A bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Atul Chandurkar was hearing the channel's writ petition alleging that Multi System Operators (MSOs) in Andhra Pradesh have stopped transmitting its signal after the 2024 Assembly election results. The petition seeks restoration of transmission on bouquet basis as it existed on June 3, 2024, and other reliefs including a declaration that the alleged disconnections and coercive measures against MSOs are unconstitutional.The Court ultimately allowed Sakshi TV to request the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to advance the hearing of its case.“In the view of the urgency expressed by the learned counsel for the petitioner, we direct that upon the petitioner making an appropriate request, the Tribunal may advance the hearing and dispose of the application expeditiously”, the court ordered.On the alleged blackout, the State submitted that the issue is private and that there is no order by the government directing disconnection. The bench asked, “If there is no order then how can we interfere?” Senior Advocate Niranjan Reddy for the petitioner replied that although there is no official directive, MSOs have stopped transmission at the behest of the State government. He explained that channels are usually transmitted as bouquets and that Sakshi TV had wide distribution until the change of State government, after which it was suddenly clipped off. Justice Narasimha pointed out that such disputes routinely come before the TDSAT. “These are standard kind of matters that occur in the Tribunal. Irrespective of oral order there is absolutely a right in your favour if you have established the broadcast. But we will still interfere if there is a very clear case under Article 32,” he said.Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, also appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the channel had already gone before TDSAT against MSOs and that the Tribunal had recorded that Andhra Pradesh State Fibernet, a state-owned distribution platform, is “lying through the teeth.” He said that there is a blanket blackout of the channel. Justice Narasimha noted that Senior Advocate Niranjan Reddy had informed the court that Sakshi TV was now being offered on an à la carte basis. Reddy clarified that this happened only after notice was issued in the present petition.Rohatgi added that the channel is currently unavailable. “When we came here there was a complete black out. Today also there is a complete blackout, no à la carte, nothing,” he said. When the bench pointed out that even according to the petitioner there is no formal directive by the State, Rohatgi replied, “I agree, but that can't mean I don't have a right (under article 19(1)(a)).” He submitted that there is non-compliance with the TDSAT order. He referred to a customer care call where an AP Fibernet representative allegedly stated that Sakshi TV was completely stopped. He said that the channel should be restored to its position in June 2024. “Fibernet is giving nothing, not even à la carte,” he said.Rohatgi said the Tribunal proceedings have moved slowly. “This was in the Tribunal, they (state) are caring two hoots for the Tribunal. Since October 2024 we are now in December 2025. The Tribunal can't have the powers of the Supreme Court…This is too serious a matter for the Tribunal,” he said, adding that TDSAT does not have contempt jurisdiction and the blackout remains while the case has now been listed there on March 2, 2026.Ultimately, the Court adjourned the matter allowing Sakshi TV to seek advance hearing before the TDSAT for expeditious disposal.Case no. – Writ Petition (Civil) No. 739/2025Case Title – M/S. Indira Television Limited & Anr. v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors.

News Channels & Newspapers No Longer Report Facts Properly; Objectivity Sacrificed : Supreme Court Laments

Amisha Shrivastava

"What gets reported is a slanted fact," the Court said.

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