The Delhi high court on Friday restrained Sudarshan TV from telecasting its programme titled ‘Bindas Bol’, whose latest promo claimed that the channel was all set to broadcast a ‘big expose on conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims in government service’.
The show was scheduled to air tonight at 8 pm.
Meanwhile, LiveLaw has reported that a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and with Justice K.M. Joseph in it, has “desisted from imposing a pre-broadcast interlocutory injunction on the basis of an unverified transcript of a 49-second clip”.
The Apex Court was hearing a plea by lawyer Rashid Azam. The petitioners had sought prohibition of the proposed broadcast of thre program.
The petitioners have contended that journalist Suresh Chavhanke has openly engaged in hate speech and defamation against students of Jamia Milia Islamia and the Muslim community.
It was further contended that the proposed broadcast along with the trailer violates the programme code set out under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, read with the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994. The proposed broadcast and trailer also constitute hate speech and criminal defamation and is an offence under Sections 153A (1), 153B(1), 295A and 499 of the Indian Penal Code.
The Delhi high court’s Justice Navin Chawla issued a notice and sought responses of the Central government, the Union Public Service Commission, Sudarshan TV, and its head, Suresh Chavhanke, on a petition filed by former and present students of Jamia Millia Islamia University.
The Central Government Counsel appearing for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on instructions, submitted that several complaints were received by the Ministry against the program proposed to be telecast by Sudarshan TV and that it has issued notice to it. The notice issued to the channel and asked them clarify on the airing og the promo in context of the Programme Code enshrined under Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 by return mail.
The high court listed the matter for further hearing on September 7.
The plea contended that the proposed broadcast sought to defame, attack and incite hatred against Jamia Millia Islamia, its alumni, and the Muslim community at large.
The trailer of the show dropped on Thursday, garnering 1.5 million views on Twitter and a barrage of criticism and support.
Jamia Milia Islamia on Thursday said it has asked the education ministry to take ‘appropriate action’ against Sudarshan TV channel and its head Suresh Chavhanke for “tarnishing” the image of the university and the Muslim community.
The order has been delivered by Bench comprising of Justice NAVIN CHAWLA on 28-08-2020.
Read Order Here:
Sources: The Wire, LiveLaw
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