Orissa HC Quashes Criminal Case Against OTV For COVID-19 Phone Conversation

The Orissa High Court recently dismissed a criminal case filed against Odisha TV (OTV) for broadcasting a phone conversation related to COVID-19.

Chief Justice S Muralidhar’s Bench concluded that the conversation, which questioned certain aspects of pandemic management, was not intended to cause panic among the public.

The Court held that continuing the criminal case against the petitioner, an Input Editor at OTV, would have a chilling effect on press freedom.

It stated that the conversation was unlikely to deter the public from seeking COVID-19 treatment or provoke offenses against the State.

The plea to quash the criminal case was filed by the Input Editor of OTV, represented by Senior Advocate Gautam Misra and advocate Anupam Dash. The State authorities were represented by advocate Prasanna Kumar Mohanty.