The Madras High Court Bench here has blamed the mass media, especially movies made with stories revolving around perverted plots, for declining values among youngsters and their increased indulgence in immoral activities related to sex, crime and such other evils.
“Nowadays, the impact of cinema/media is more on the younger generation and some films have exerted an evil influence on many people. It is no doubt true that films which show activities of criminals have encouraged the youth to commit acts of crime,” Justice S. Vaidyanathan said.
“Other films too such as those dealing with sex and other natural weaknesses of man have corrupted the morals of many people,” the judge said while dismissing a writ petition filed by a third year MCA student who was suspended by his college in Kanyakumari district for spending time with a girl in a classroom locked from inside.
Not discounting the advantages of the mass media which serves as a storehouse of information at the touch of a button, the judge said: “Good things telecast on television and published in newspapers and magazines do not reach the minds of the youngsters as fast as the bad messages.”
“Therefore, television, cinemas, dramas and other modern means of communication such as mobile phones have become the root cause for spoiling the life of the youth. The present case is the perfect example in that line,” the judge said and held that encouraging such activities would set a bad precedent.
Though the petitioner claimed that he was the first generation graduate since none his family had ever stepped into a college and that he had passed the examinations conducted so far with distinction, it did not cut ice with the judge who said that the misconduct was too grave to be condoned.
