CJI criticises media for coverage on terror attacks

Cautioning media about the ill-effects of unrestrained coverage of terror attacks, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on Saturday said that it can provoke a disproportionate level of anger among people leading to irrational desire for retribution.

Speaking at an International Conference of Jurists on Terrorism in New Delhi, he said if terrorists attacks were attributed to individuals belonging to a certain ethnic or religious community then it may result in unreasonable discrimination and retaliation against ordinary members of that community.

"We must take note of the fact that the symbolic impact of terrorist attacks on the minds of ordinary citizens has also been considerably amplified by pervasive media

coverage.

"The proliferation of 24-hour news channels and the digital medium has ensured that quite often some disturbing images and statements reach a wide audience within a short span of time," he said in his address to the two-day conference which was inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil.

Law Minister Veerapa Moily and eminent jurists from various countries were present.

Speaking on the occasion, President Pratibha Patil said that terrorism was a perverse global phenomenon and the struggle against it must be carried to the world stage.

"In the modern world, distance and time do not provide insulation from the reach of terrorism. Terrorism easily transcends borders and thus becomes a transnational crime.

Being a crime against humanity, it ought to be recognised as a common enemy of all nations. A terror threat against one, is a threat against all," she said.

The President also said that challenges to the rule of law would also include problems of international terrorism, a global economic order that did not have adequate representation in international financial institutions for developing countries, weapons of mass destruction, and transnational crimes such as drug trafficking and money laundering.

Justice Balakrishnan suggested that terrorist attacks should be treated as offences recognised under the international criminal law like "crimes against humanity", which can be tried before a supranational tribunal such as the International Criminal Court (ICC).