LEGAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST MEDIA INTRUSIONS: EXAMINING FAMILY HARASSMENT IN HIGH PROFILE CASES

AUTHOR – TANISHA GARG, STUDENT AT KARNAVATI UNIVERSITY (UNITED WORLD SCHOOL OF LAW)

BEST CITATION – TANISHA GARG, LEGAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST MEDIA INTRUSIONS: EXAMINING FAMILY HARASSMENT IN HIGH PROFILE CASES, ILE MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, 4 (1) OF 2025, PG. 852-859, APIS – 3920-0007 | ISSN – 2583-7230.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS:

In today’s fast-paced digital world, where news spreads quickly and people’s curiosity seems endless, the clash between privacy rights and media ethics is becoming a bigger issue—especially in high-profile court cases. The media’s role in sensationalizing legal disputes and trials raises serious concerns about protecting people’s dignity, privacy, and mental well-being, particularly in a democracy like India. Here, freedom of the press is a constitutional right, but so is the right to privacy, as seen in the important K. S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India ruling. This research aims to look at the delicate balance between two competing rights: the public’s right to know and an individual’s right to keep their life private. It will look into how Indian laws, constitutional guidelines, and ethical standards try to manage media behavior, especially in cases involving victims, the accused, and their families. By examining both court rulings and media ethics principles, this study will consider how courts, journalists, and society handle this complicated relationship. The research will also look at the psychological and social effects of media intrusion, shedding light on how sensational stories and public scrutiny can lead to more victimization, social isolation, and lasting emotional distress for those involved in legal issues. By reviewing cases like the Kathua rape case and the Gudiya case, this project aims to show how unchecked media actions can undermine justice, erode trust, and cause long-term harm. In the end, this work will argue for a media landscape that is more mindful of ethics and fairness, encouraging journalism that respects democratic values without stepping on the basic rights of individuals in the public eye