Impact Of Media Accountability In Reporting Sub-Judice Criminal Cases

Abstract

This paper aims at studying the impact of media accountability in reporting sub-judice criminal cases. The current trend of media on reporting cases commonly known as “Trial by media” has witnessed the sensation of self-manifested stories, half-baked truth resulting in the violation of the right of individuals, resulting in media reporting transforming into a media circus. In India, media trials have assumed significance. There have been several cases where the media had taken the case into their own hands and declared judgement against an accused contrary to fair trials in court. An empirical research is done with a sample size of 200. The sample frame is Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The main aim of the study is to find out the impact of media accountability reporting sub-judice criminal cases. The independent variables are age, gender , educational qualification and occupation. The dependent variables are the awareness of media accountability, media trials, its effect on judges, independence of judiciary, contempt of court and implications of media accountability on judiciary. The statistical tools used in the study are graphical representation and correlation analysis. The media is accountable for the negative impact on the reporting of sub-judice criminal cases .