The Hindu : National : Juvenile Justice Board cautions media

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004

National

National

Juvenile Justice Board cautions media

NEW DELHI, DEC. 20. The Delhi Juvenile Justice Board today criticised the media for ``sensationalising'' the SMS scandal involving two minor students of a public school in Delhi and ordered the scribes not to name the school while reporting the case.

The order was passed by the Principal Magistrate, Santosh Snehi Mann, after the school counsel, Puneet Mittal, urged her to restrain the media from naming the school as it was adversely affecting minor children who have to appear for their annual examinations.

Ms. Mann also decided to write to the Press Council of India on the conduct of the fourth estate in this case.

``I am cautioning you [media] from doing this and writing to the Press Council of India on the issue,'' she said.

The Magistrate said the media was not ``sensitive'' but attempting to ``sensationalise'' the issue.

The way the media was handling the issue would not create any awareness or do good to society or children, she said.

The judge told the media that it cannot name the school in which the boy was studying as any facts which leads to the identification of the accused is prohibited under the Juvenile Justice Act.

PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National