Published Paper Details:

The 21st century has revolutionized the media world, and this era witnessed a fundamental shift in the way we communicate from traditional print media like newspaper, and television and the modern media like social media. British Member of Parliament, Lord Macaulay, had, years ago, called the media “the fourth pillar of democracy”. It has since been quoted often, and a free media is considered indispensable in a democracy. But the media today is not what it was then. Multiple factors have led to media organizations compromising their journalistic ethics and principles which harms the nation in a big way. Media intervention in under trial cases has become very normal affairs in the society. Judges are compelled somehow to take decision according to the follow up of Media criticism. For which, declaration of verdict by media becomes the final verdict in trial courts, especially in many high-profile cases. Reincarnated as public court, media separately starts investigation and forms public opinion. It is obvious that to run the democracy very smoothly, a free and healthy media functionary is needed. But most of the time the freedom of expression is engrossed the controversy by the sub clause (2), article 19 of the Constitution of India. It does not embrace the freedom to contempt of court. But according to the demand of current situation, media significantly involves when justice is totally denied or delayed. Though media helps in social, political changes but sometimes it is also seen frequently that media involves into the money-making business. This paper is an attempt to analyse the impacts caused by the media trial and how it takes the cover of freedom of speech and expression to continue with the undue interference with the administration of justice. The dissertation also analyses the effect of media trial on right to privacy, right to reputation, right to be legally represented and right to a fair trial.