Supreme Court Directs Home Ministry to Create Manual on Police Briefings to Media

• 14 Sep 2023

On 13^th September, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a directive stating that police briefings to the media should not result in a media trial. The court has instructed the home ministry to prepare a manual on police briefings within 90 days.

Key Points:

• Preventing Media Trials: The Supreme Court emphasized that police briefings to the media should not lead to a media trial that prematurely determines the guilt of the accused.
• Input from Director Generals of Police (DGPs): The apex court has asked all state Director Generals of Police (DGPs) to provide their suggestions for the manual.
• Additionally, the input of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will be considered in this process.
• Balancing Rights and Privacy: The Supreme Court emphasized the delicate balance between the fundamental right to free speech and expression, the rights of the accused to a fair investigation, and the privacy of victims.
• Tailoring Information Disclosure: The court recognized that the nature of information disclosed to the media should be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, considering factors such as the age and gender of victims and accused individuals.