On 01-April, 2020, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued press release following the orders passed by Supreme Court of India which had refrained the media from disseminating unverified news capable of causing panic
The Supreme Court of India had directed the Media, including print, electronic and social media, to maintain a strong sense of responsibility and ensure that unverified news capable of causing panic is not disseminated.
The Apex court had noted that the migration of large number of labourers working in the cities was triggered by panic created by fake news that the lock down would continue for more than three months. The Court observed that it was not possible for it to overlook the menace of fake news by electronic, print or social media because the panic driven migration has caused untold suffering to those who acted on such news, causing some to lose their lives.
The Court had said in the order that it does not intend to interfere with the free discussion about the pandemic, but at the same time had directed that the Media refer to and publish the official version about the developments.
-India Legal Bureau