Manisha Yadav
On 29th June 2025, the Poonch Court in Jammu and Kashmir issued a significant directive for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Zee News and News18 India, a News Channel. The Channels were reportedly circulating misleading and defamatory content regarding a local teacher during their coverage of Operation Sindoor, a recent military initiative aimed at addressing threats from Pakistan following the tragic Pahalgam attack.
The order was delivered by Sub-Judge/Special Mobile Magistrate Shafeeg Ahmed in response to a formal complaint lodged by Advocate Sheikh Mohammad Saleem. Adv. Sheikh Saleem cleared before the Court that Qari Iqbal was not a militant but a dedicated religious educator at Jamia Zia-ul-Uloom in Poonch, tragically falling victim to the violence of cross-border bombardment. During a live coverage of Operation Sindoor, Zee News and News18 India aired sensationalized reports branding him as a “notorious commander”, which harmed the reputation of the deceased. This portrayal was made without corroboration from official sources.
During the proceedings, Law Enforcement Officials contended that the case fell outside the jurisdiction of the Poonch Court, citing that the broadcasts originated from Delhi. However, the Court dismissed this objection, invoking Section 199 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which asserts that jurisdiction holds valid in either locality when the consequences of an act, such as defamation, manifest elsewhere. The Court emphasized that the harm occurred in Poonch, the town where the deceased lived, served, and was tragically martyred.
The Court made pointed remarks about the responsibility of the media, the press benefits from protection under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, this freedom is circumscribed by reasonable restrictions defined in Article 19(2). These restrictions apply particularly in cases involving defamation, public order and characterizing the unverified branding of a civilian teacher as a terrorist as a serious breach of journalistic integrity.
The Court emphasized that an apology could not erase the damage inflicted by the broadcasts. The Court reiterated the police’s obligation to take action once a cognizable offense has been identified. Consequently, the Station House Officer was mandated to register the FIR within seven days and to furnish a compliance report. Furthermore, the Court instructed that a fair, impartial, and timely investigation be conducted.
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