Investigative journalism is unfortunately vanishing from media: CJI NV Ramana

Hyderabad: The Chief Justice of India, N.V Ramana, on Wednesday highlighted the role of the media in bringing out the failure of institutions and people to enforce laws and rued that lately, there have been few media reports on scandals that lead to serious consequences.

The CJI was talking during the virtual launch of the book 'Blood Sanders: The Great Forest Heist' written by senior journalist Sudhakar Reddy Udumula.

"In the past, we have witnessed newspaper reports on scandals and misconduct creating waves leading to serious consequences. Barring one or two, I don't recall any story of such magnitude in recent years. Everything in our garden appears to be rosy. I leave it to you to arrive at your own conclusions," said CJI Ramana.

Himself a former journalist, the CJI shared his thoughts on the present-day media at the book launch event held at Bhaskara Auditorium in BM Birla Science Museum in Khairatabad.

"As the author mentions, the AP Forest Act was amended in 2016 to deal sternly with the smuggling of Red Sanders. However, what is lacking is the necessary will to enforce these laws. This is where the media needs to play its role. The collective failures of individuals and institutions entrusted with the role of protectors need to be highlighted by the media. People need to be made aware of deficiencies in the process. This job can only be done by the media," said CJI Ramana.

Senior journalist Sudhakar Reddy has been tracking the subject of red sanders smuggling as a professional news reporter for nearly two decades. He travelled extensively in the habitat of red sanders which is a difficult terrain to walk through and had first-hand interaction with the key players of the smuggling racket and also those who struggled to enforce the law.

The CJI further said, "When he first approached me for this event, I had no choice but to say yes for more than one reason. Firstly, I knew him as a journalist from his formative days as a crime reporter. Secondly, his uncle Udumula Joji Reddy and I were students in SVVN Degree College, Amaravati. His father Udumula Rayapa Reddy garu, a few years senior to me, is an agriculturist who hailed from Jagannadhapuram village which is adjacent to my native village Ponnavaram."