MEDIA TRIAL

An Analysis
INTRODUCTION
The media is the backbone of the country's democracy.
It has a vital role in molding public opinion, and has the power

to alter people's perceptions of certain events. It helps

people create their opinions and make decisions about

subjects.
Even if the media is widely seen as a "watchdog" of political democracy, too much intrusion by this "watchdog"
in everything is alarming.
Majority of individuals learn about law from the media. Media trial is a concept that has only lately been created
to describe a component of media activism. These are news events that occur on a national or regional level in
which the criminal justice system is used as a source of high drama and entertainment.

During high-profile court cases, the media is repeatedly accused of inciting a public stupor similar in nature to a
lynch mob, which not only makes a fair trial difficult but also means that the guilty will be subjected to severe
public scrutiny for the rest of their lives, regardless of who wins the trial.
 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

- To study the concept of 'media trial' and discuss a few

cases regarding it.

- To understand whether a fair trial can happen with a

media trial going on.
 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The media has a significant role in shaping
public opinion.
The desire to compete for commercialization
and more views has turned the media into a
viewership game, whatever garners most views
becomes news under this model, also referred
to as ‘sensationalism’.
The media is frequently brutal to the
psychological well-being of the accused and
victims. They intrude on their privacy, infringing
on Article 21's guarantee of the right to privacy.
This presentation intends to shed light on media
trials, with a particular focus on the impact of
media trials on various legal proceedings in
today's times.
 SOME FAMOUS CASES AFFECTED
BY MEDIA TRIAL
- DELHI RAPE CASE
There were numerous rallies across the country against the federal and
state governments for failing to provide enough security for women.
Multiple laws were amended as a result of the outcry in the media,
notably the Juvenile Justice Act, which reduced the age of penalty for
severe crime from eighteen to sixteen.

- ARUSHI – HEMRAJ MURDER CASE

The media questioned Arushi's character and her relationship with Hemraj,
even though no reliable evidence was produced.
Many critics claimed that the case was founded on flimsy evidence, that
the evidence was insufficient to blame the parents for the murder entirely,
that there were other suspects, and that the media trial intervention
caused doubts in the public's minds.
 SOME FAMOUS CASES AFFECTED BY
MEDIA TRIAL
- JESSICA LAL MURDER CASE
Following the murder, the trial court acquitted the accused, and the matter
received immediate media attention. This case became one of the most high-
profile situations in which public pressure and the media persuaded the justice
system to reconsider the case. Therefore, amid public outcry over the case's
media coverage, the Delhi police were unable to establish the basis on which
they had built their case and Manu Sharma was punished to life imprisonment
by the Delhi High Court.

- MEDIA TRIAL OF RHEA CHAKRABORTY

Rhea Chakraborty was accused of murder of Sushant Singh Rajput, called a
"witch," and threatened with rape on social media. Disturbing recordings and
photographs of her being overwhelmed by the media as she attempted to
enter the Narcotics Control Bureau office, escorted by police, were widely
circulated on social media, television, and newspapers. The media's actions
were heinous, and they exposed the country's sorry state of journalism.
IMPACT OF MEDIA TRIAL ON A FAIR
TRIAL
The right to a just trial is the foundation of criminal

law and a crucial aspect of a democratic society

controlled by the rule of law. The denial of a fair

trial amounts to the crucifixion of human rights.

The media court is regarded as a "Janata Adalat," with the public intervening with judicial
processes. The idea of “innocent until proven guilty” is the main principle of law and the active
involvement of the media along with public’s opinion may hinder it.

When the media conducts its investigation and generates public opinion against the accused
before the court takes notice of the crime and issues a final decision about it, which interferes
with the administrative justice process.
 IMPACT OF MEDIA TRIAL ON A FAIR TRIAL

Fair Trial refers to a trial in a court of law before an impartial panel that is free, fair, and
free of bias. With the growth of channels, and the Internet, the range of media's reach has
increased dramatically, and their interference in justice became well-known.

For example, the media uses language in reporting a case that has the potential to influence
a Judge's mind and control the judicial process. In that case, this right to a fair trial may be
violated. There have been limitless instances where the media has covered the trial before
and after the verdict has been reached. Because media verdicts frequently contradict court
orders, judges may find themselves in the public eye and be condemned as a result.
In the case of M.P. Lohia v. State of West Bengal, The Supreme Court has harshly
chastised the press for interfering with the administration of justice by publishing one-
sided stories about the merits of court cases.
 CONCLUSION
It is evident from the preceding arguments that
the media plays a more harmful role than a favourable one when it comes to
a person getting a fair trial.
Since court hearings are not sporting events,
the media must be regulated and not granted unrestricted access. Many
well-known criminal cases have seen the media meddle and overstep their bounds only
because the media is protected under the guise of Article 19(1)(a) freedom of speech and
expression.
Nowadays, the media is heavily influenced by sensationalism, and they are solely concerned with
their T.R.P, which has a negative impact.
News media can have a significant impact on the system as a whole, impacting decision-making
in specific cases and the system as a whole, as media stories influence the decision-making of
diverse system members as well as influence the way, public sees an incident.
THANK YOU