Investigative journalism vanishing, no big exposes by media today: CJI (and ex-journalist) NV Ramana asks media to introspect

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana on Wednesday lamented over the falling standards in journalism in India, opining that investigative journalism has all but vanished from the country..The CJI who himself was a journalist before he switched to law practice and became a judge, said that there are no big exposes or serious investigative stories by the media today. "As a person whose first job was of a journalist, I am taking the liberty to share a few thoughts on present day media. The concept of investigative journalism is unfortunately vanishing from the media canvas. It is true at least in the Indian context," he said.He recalled how newspapers were instrumental in exposing major scandals and misconducts in the past."In the past, we have witnessed newspaper reports on scandals and misconducts creating waves leading to serious consequences. When we were growing up, we eagerly looked forward to newspapers exposing big scandals and the newspapers never disappointed us those days. Barring one or two, I don't recall any story of such magnitude (in recent past). Everything in our garden appears to be rosy," he addedThe CJI was speaking at the book launch of Sudhakar Reddy Udumula's book 'Blood Sanders: The Great Forest Heist."In his speech, CJI Ramana quoted Mahatma Gandhi as he asked the media to introspect and test themselves against the Mahatma's words."I am reminded of what Gandhi ji said about newspapers and I quote: 'The newspapers should be read for the study of facts. They should not be allowed to kill the habit of independent thinking.' I hope the media introspects and tests itself against these words of Mahatma," the CJI exhorted..The CJI also commended author Sudhakar Reddy Udumula on the extensive research he undertook for this book, the first comprehensive account of smuggling of red sanders trees."His book gives insights into what all has gone wrong with the fragile ecosystem spread over Chittoor, Nellore, Prakasam, Kadapa and Kurnool Districts of Andhra Pradesh. Red Sanders thrived in this habitat till a few decades ago. Now it is facing the threat of extinction. Like all good things in this world, Red Sanders also fell prey to the greed of man," the CJI noted..The CJI concluded by suggesting that authorities should consider taking the help of tribal population and other forest-dwellers to deal with the menace of red sanders smuggling in Seshachalam.