Delhi High Court Issues Notices To Media Channels To Ensure Unbiased Reporting, Asks Delhi Police To Submit Affidavit Stating They Haven't Leaked Any Material

GENERAL OVERVIEW

• Climate Activist Disha Ravi was arrested on February 13th for her alleged role in creating the toolkit in the Farmers protest. She denied being the creator, stating she only made two edits to it.
• Disha filed a petition on Thursday, February 18- imploring the Delhi High Court to restrain police from leaking private WhatsApp chats, in the farmers protest toolkit case.
• The Court on Friday, February 19th- asks the Police to comply with the affidavit they filed stating that they haven't leaked any private conversations.
• The High Court issues notices to certain media channels, and also asks Disha to make sure that she, in no way maligns the Police or Government authorities.
• The petition filed by Disha observes that such leakage of private chats and biased reporting is 'False, malicious and severely compromises the Petitioner’s right to privacy, right to reputation, and right to a fair trial.” 

WHAT IS IN THE PETITION?

• The petition filed by Disha Ravi asks the court to restrain the Delhi Police from leaking any investigation material relating to the case, including alleged contents of private chats and communications to any person, through and including media.
• She also asks that the Centre and News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) take action against News18, India Today, Times Now, and any other media house, under relevant regulations for publishing alleged private chats between Disha and others, and asks the channels to take down their existing stories that contain this material. 

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?

• The Court recorded Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's statement- that the Delhi Police has not leaked any material- and had asked the Delhi Police to file an affidavit stating the same.
• Justice Prathiba Singh has directed NBSA and the editors of media channels- Times Now, India Today and News18- to ensure that there is proper editorial control, and to ensure proper and unbiased reporting on the case.
• The Judge did not pass any orders in relation to taking down any content as mentioned in the petition, observing that it would require a more detailed hearing.
• The next hearing will take place on March 17th, while awaiting for detailed responses from the parties.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE HIGH COURT'S DECISION? LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!