Take action against news channel which put out phone numbers of IAS officers: Gujarat High Court during suo motu COVID hearing

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday took strong objection to the reportage of COVID crisis by certain news channels stating that the government should considering closing down such channels and sealing their office..A Bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Bhargav D Karia said that putting out such numbers would seriously affect such officers. “You need to take to task these media channels and newspapers and anyone else who is making all kinds of unnecessary negativity unnecessary. This news channel which has put out numbers of senior IAS officers saying they can be contacted for getting a bed in the hospital. Is this justified? Is it good journalism and media role?” the Court asked..Certainly not My Lord,” replied Advocate General Kamal Trivedi.“Then why is the government not taking action?” the Court demanded.“You just need to pass an order, close that channel. Seal that officer, finished?” the Court added..The Court, however, refrained from passing any order.The Bench was hearing a suo motu petition registered by the Gujarat High Court on Covid management in the State of Gujarat.The Court on Tuesday also pulled up the government for various inadequacies in the handling of the situation by government.The Court said that while the situation on the ground remains grim, the government’s affidavit painted a rosy picture.“You can’t sit on ivory tower and say you will solve the crisis. You have to come to ground level and seethe ground situation. Your affidavit does not reflect the ground reality reported everyday everywhere. It is giving a rosy picture as if everything is fine,” remarked Justice Karia.But we still don’t know how much is the demand for resources, what is the supply and how much shortage is there and from where you will bring the resources, he added..State government affidavit does not reflect the ground reality reported everyday everywhere. It is giving a rosy picture as if everything is fine.Gujarat High Court .Pertinently, the Court said that the State has to think of ways to break the chain in order to bring the virus under control.“You have to think of breaking the chain. How can you break the chain? Unless you think of steps to break the chain, this will multiply,” the Court said.The matter will be heard again on May 4.