Journalists lose faith when their stories are killed, says CJI

After slamming the media for running “kangaroo courts”, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said on Tuesday that journalists lose faith in their profession when their stories are killed.

Speaking at a book launch, the CJI said journalists sometimes report stories at great risk, only to see the stories killed by their editors. “It is thoroughly demoralising for a genuine journalist. You cannot blame him or her, if they encounter such situations repeatedly and lose faith in the profession,” he said.

Ramana himself briefly worked as a journalist before entering the legal profession.

In his speech, the CJI also emphasised the importance of independent media. “It’s the responsibility of media houses to present facts. Especially in the Indian social scenario people still believe that whatever is printed is true,” he said. “All I want to say is that the media must confine itself to honest journalism without using it as a tool to expand its influence and business interests.”

He lamented that few Indian journalists receive international awards. “I urge upon all the stakeholders to introspect as to why our standards are not considered good enough for international recognition and laurels," the CJI said.

On Saturday, the CJI had criticised the media, especially electronic media, for running “kangaroo courts”. “Ill-informed and agenda-driven debates on issues involving justice delivery are proving to be detrimental to the health of the democracy,” he had said.