Humiliated by a 37-second video clip, which had become viral on the social media websites with the title “Drunk Delhi police cop on Delhi Metro,” a city police constable has moved the Supreme Court seeking compensation from the Centre and the social media websites.
In his writ petition, the petitioner, P. Salim, said the uploading of the said video taken in August 2015 with wrong misleading titles on the social media websites was telecast on all television channels and published in most of the newspapers in India and abroad and this resulted in his suspension from service.
The video was shared by thousands, leading to debates and discussions, demoralising the petitioner and the Delhi police.
In the departmental inquiry by the Delhi police, he was exonerated and reinstated with all benefits. The petitioner said he was suffering from an ailment and this resulted in his falling in the Delhi Metro. However, this was portrayed as if he was drunk and due to this humiliation, he faced prejudice and could not come out of his house. He was forced to leave Delhi for treatment and returned only after he fully recovered.
Seriously aggrieved, with no other alternative option of regaining his lost dignity and his right to lead a dignified life in tune with Article 21 of the Constitution, the police constable said he is filing the present writ petition. It is pertinent to mention here that when he was suspended, it was front page news and a hot subject for discussions on television channels, but when he was exonerated and reinstated with all benefits, not a single newspaper published the news.
The role of the media — the print, visual and social — is increasing day by day which requires “responsible reporting” and there should not be any incidence which will seriously affect dignified life of the citizens because of irresponsible reporting, the police constable said and prayed for award of suitable compensation by the government and the media, for which he has made the Press Council of India as a party.
