Commission flays media for 'irresponsible coverage'

Chennai, Sep 2 (UNI) The Justice Sampath Commission of Inquiry, which conducted a probe into the death of 94 school children in a gruesome fire mishap at Kumbakonam in 2004, today flayed the media for 'irresponsbile' coverage of the tragedy and urged it to play a constructive role.

The report of the one-man Commission was tabled in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today.

It said ''the families' outrage together with considerable public consternation had simmered during the days of uncertainty and was further fuelled by the repeated projection of the scene by an irresponsible media''.

''Splashing pictures and the showing of the dead are violations of human rights of the deceased. Though it is regrettable that the bodies of the dead were displayed in an unpleasant state, the media forget that human beings are entitled to the right of modesty even after they are dead'', the report said.

Observing that the media coverage of the charred remains of the children and the wailing relatives was deeply disturbing, both for its content and a lack of courtesy for fellow human beings, it said such photos ought not to have been published. ''The least society can give a deceased person is dignity in death.

Mourning is an extremely personal and private emotion and showcasing the people's grief was also a violation of their human rights'', it added.

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