TRIAL BY MEDIA: CONCEPT AND PHENOMENON

A media shackled by its government is an unhealthy thing; however, a media allowed to run its mouth in an unaccountable manner may prove to be even more dangerous. While there must be punishments for the heinous crimes committed every day, the process of punishment should not encroach on the right of the accused for a free and fair trial in a Court of law. The problem of media trials is becoming more and more prevalent today. This article tries to analyse the problem of media trials by studying the various materials available on the topic, such as newspaper articles on the most famous media trials of India. I have come to the conclusion, after a fair analysis, that while the freedom of the press must be maintained in a country governed by the principle of ?rule of law?, there must be a certain restraint to prevent the media from encroaching on the sole jurisdiction of the Courts of law i.e., the administration of justice.