Sudarshan TV case adjourned to Nov 19; SG informs SC I&B ministry’s decision in the matter to be filed in court tomorrow

The Supreme Court Monday adjourned the hearing of a petition challenging Sudarshan TV's 'UPSC Jihad' show to November 19.

The Court was informed by the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that a decision by the Ministry of Information and Broadcast in the matter was ready and would be filed in Court tomorrow and would also be shared with the petitioners.

SG Mehta on October 26 informed the Court that the Inter-Ministerial Committee had given it's recommendations in respect of the programmes which are yet to be telecast by the news station and as such the Government was in the process of issuing another notice to Sudarshan TV calling for its reply. The Court had then adjourned the hearing for today.

Earlier the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on September 9 allowed the news channel to telecast its show.  but directed the channel to ensure that it did not violate any programme code. It also added that action would be taken as per the law if any violation was found.

By the time, SC took up the matter for hearing on September 15 after issuing notice in the matter, and initially refusing prior restraint against the show on August 28, the channel had broadcast four of the nine episodes of the show in the meantime between September 9 to 14.

The apex court on September 15 issued an interim injunction against the broadcast of the remaining episodes of Sudarshan TV's "UPSC Jihad" show.

It had observed "an insidious attempt has been made to insinuate that the community is involved in a conspiracy to infiltrate the civil services. Several statements in the episodes, which have been drawn to the attention of the Court are not just palpably erroneous but have been made in wanton disregard of the truth". 

It added "India is a melting pot of civilizations, cultures, religions and languages. Any attempt to vilify a religious community must be viewed with grave disfavour by this Court as the custodian of constitutional values. Its duty to enforce constitutional values demands nothing less".