Dec 14, 2006 07:17 PM
3113 Views
The Law, especially for those who have to ensure justice is upheld and injustice against any person avoided, is a roadblock; a sort of speed breaker that makes deliverance of justice within its parameters an arduous task. Eventually, the verdict delivered may simply not adhere to the principles of natural justice or appeal to the common sensibility of citizens, but since it exists within the framework of LAW, one can’t question it.
But the fundamental rights assured to all of us citizens ensures that we have the right to debate and deliberate upon the decisions dispensed by the judicial system. One such decision, as quoted in many National dailies across the country, is the dismissal of a PIL filed seeking a ban on obscenity in papers.
The Supreme Court bench comprising of two judges on 12th December, 2006 dismissed a Public Interest Litigation that was filed by Ajay Goswami seeking a ban on the publication of obscene and nude photographs in newspapers, citing that it was affecting young children and adolescents. Two prominent National Dailies were represented by defense counsels. It does not take a brilliant one to figure out that TOI was one defendant. The judges in their decision accepted the defense counsel’s argument that a blanket ban on such material will lead to newspapers publishing material catering to children alone and adults will be denied their share of entertainment.
To the average junta this assessment may sound ridiculous. Since when did newspapers turn from sources of news, daily events and happenings to sources of entertainment? It also makes us wonder if the judges have stopped picking up the morning paper at all. If they continue to source the day’s vital accounts from newspapers, they will certainly be aware of the vulgarity and obscenity that has become part of our National Dailies.
Flashy pictures, especially in the supplementary newspapers that most Dailies dole out are offensive to parents. Increasingly, news items are not just reports of news worthy events, but feature sensational and cheap gossip. Most of these items feature photographs of semi-clad women/celebrities that are unnecessary. Newspapers are guilty of promoting cheap entertainment with utter disregard for the large student populace that also comprises the reading public.
So what happens to the oft-repeated sermon by parents to their kids “read the newspaper and gain knowledge”? Is the newspaper reading habit, first thing in the morning, worth emulating anymore? Because one cannot pick up the newspaper these days and appreciate the content that fills its pages. While parents have to battle the invasion of porn through the internet into the bedrooms of their kids, the only source of news, global, country specific and regional must also be filtered before children are allowed to go through them. School teachers also claim that for newspaper reading during assemblies, students have to be told to desist from selecting news content from supplementary newspapers.
While publishing trashy and flashy news content may be an economic exercise for publishers, they are now publishing a newspaper meant exclusively for students, which has regulated content and does not feature obscenity. Therefore, they do admit that their daily editions are not for children. So what is next? Newspapers with Adult/PG certification?
The only reality this debate exposes are the rising challenges a parent faces in this day; to rear a child who can compete and be part of this enormous global village, as well as protect his childhood and innocence till he is old enough to fathom the intricacies of “adulthood”.
One can’t blame the judiciary for coming up with a solution like they did. And one can’t question the compulsions of a super competitive publishing industry. However, one can continue to raise their voice against what is wrong and what is clearly robbing the children of our country their right to information. As readers and parents we must demand better news quality in our National Dailies.
