NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed serious concerns over the infectious trend of each person with a mobile phone becoming media and instantaneously uploading videos on social media platforms and said such activities posed a grave threat to fair trial of accused.A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said this while hearing a PIL which alleged that police upload videos and photographs of arrested accused on their social media handles, creating a bias in people’s mind, who later blame the judiciary if they get acquitted for lack of evidence.The bench agreed with senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan that “every person with a mobile phone has become media” and observed that whenever there is an accident, people take out their mobile phones to create content even when a person is bleeding on the road.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Israel pounds Tehran as Iranians mark Nowruz; UAE, Kuwait defences respond to missile barrage’World’s first hit’: Iran claims strike on US F-35 lightning 2 – why it’s a big dealIran hits Ras Laffan facility: Qatar’s 17% LNG capacity gone, $20bn loss; which countries will be impacted?Justice Bagchi told the petitioner that instead of talking of social media handles of police, which in all states have been given three months by the SC to formulate and comply with a standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding police-media briefings to balance transparency in investigation, right to information and right to fair trial of accused, it should seek a comprehensive mechanism for police, conventional and social media. He said, “On a larger canvas, we believe police should not create a bias against the accused through its briefings. Police can be restrained through the SOP. But what about the media, especially social media, and the public? Can they be restrained? Comparatively, TV channels are much more restrained, even though one might disagree with their views.”Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said there are tabloids on social media which in an understatement could be characterised as “blackmailers”. Justice Bagchi said, “The problem is the atomised social media.”CJI Kant said, “It is akin to or a different facet of digital arrest. There is a tendency in towns and cities away from the national capital where people flaunt their credentials as media persons and boldly display it on their vehicles for ulterior designs.”Sankaranarayanan said, “I know a few advocates who sport ‘Supreme Court Advocate’ stickers on their cars to evade paying tolls on highways.” The bench said since the issue of fair trial for accused required a comprehensive approach, it would be better if the petition is withdrawn and refiled with an enlarged scope after April when the SOP for police would have been implemented.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMoD Reveals India Exploring Joining GCAP Or FCAS Sixth Generation Fighter ProgrammePM Modi Speaks To Bahrain King, Condemns Attacks On Energy Infra, Stresses Secure Shipping RoutesTrump Sending Troops To Strait Of Hormuz?; ‘Iran Being Decimated’: Bibi Denies Dragging U.S Into WarDiplomacy In New Avatar: Why Vikram Doraiwami Picked Chinese Name Wei Jiameng As India’s New EnvoyHow Iran’s Attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan Gas Hub Sparks India’s Energy EmergencyIndian National Killed In Riyadh, MEA Confirms Total 6 Dead, 1 Missing Amid Israel-Iran WarRussia Tip Off Led To NIA Arrest Of Matthew VanDyke, Global Insurgency Network Exposed In Northeast’Some Say India Can Stop The War’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Big StatementPremium Petrol Prices Hiked By Up To ₹2.35 Per Litre In India Amid West Asia ConflictPakistan’s Fake War Narrative Exposed: India Busts Digital Attack After Iran’s IRIS Dena Strike123PhotostoriesFrom losing his mother at the age of 2 to delivering 15 flop Bhojpuri films and earning Rs 1.5 lakh per episode of Comedy Circus, When Krushna Abhishek opened up about his struggle8 desi vegetables that are actually foreign12 strangest place names in the world and the stories behind themEid Mubarak 2026: 6 traditional Seviyan preparations that complete the Eid feasting5 most scenic riverside retreats in India perfect for April travel5 advanced features in bikes that enhance performanceWhy no one stays in this forest after sunset: Unraveling the mystery of Nidhi Van6 spiritual cities emerging as India’s real estate hotspots in 20265 ways to use avocado peel in daily meal plans10 simple activities that boost memory and cognition naturally123Hot PicksIran newsGlobal Terrorism Index 2026World Happiness Report 2026Gold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingIga SwiatekAir India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed serious concerns over the infectious trend of each person with a mobile phone becoming media and instantaneously uploading videos on social media platforms and said such activities posed a grave threat to fair trial of accused.A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said this while hearing a PIL which alleged that police upload videos and photographs of arrested accused on their social media handles, creating a bias in people’s mind, who later blame the judiciary if they get acquitted for lack of evidence.The bench agreed with senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan that “every person with a mobile phone has become media” and observed that whenever there is an accident, people take out their mobile phones to create content even when a person is bleeding on the road.Justice Bagchi told the petitioner that instead of talking of social media handles of police, which in all states have been given three months by the SC to formulate and comply with a standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding police-media briefings to balance transparency in investigation, right to information and right to fair trial of accused, it should seek a comprehensive mechanism for police, conventional and social media. He said, “On a larger canvas, we believe police should not create a bias against the accused through its briefings. Police can be restrained through the SOP. But what about the media, especially social media, and the public? Can they be restrained? Comparatively, TV channels are much more restrained, even though one might disagree with their views.”Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said there are tabloids on social media which in an understatement could be characterised as “blackmailers”. Justice Bagchi said, “The problem is the atomised social media.”CJI Kant said, “It is akin to or a different facet of digital arrest. There is a tendency in towns and cities away from the national capital where people flaunt their credentials as media persons and boldly display it on their vehicles for ulterior designs.”Sankaranarayanan said, “I know a few advocates who sport ‘Supreme Court Advocate’ stickers on their cars to evade paying tolls on highways.” The bench said since the issue of fair trial for accused required a comprehensive approach, it would be better if the petition is withdrawn and refiled with an enlarged scope after April when the SOP for police would have been implemented.
