Madras High Court Rejects Plea Seeking Media Guidelines on Aviation Accident Reporting

The Madras High Court dismissed a public interest plea seeking media reporting guidelines for aviation accidents.

A Bench of Chief Justice MM Shrivastava and Justice Sunder Mohan refused to direct the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, DGCA, and MeitY to issue advisories regulating speculative coverage.

The petitioner, Advocate M Pravin, argued that premature media blame, especially on pilots, as seen after the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, harms reputations and causes trauma to families.

The Court, however, refused to interfere, despite claims that such coverage violates Articles 14, 19(1)(a), and 21 of the Constitution.