SC abstained from imposing a pre-broadcast interlocutory injuction on Sudarshan TV from telecasting ‘Bindas Bol’
SC abstained from imposing a pre-broadcast interlocutory injuction on Sudarshan TV from telecasting Bindas Bol
A petition has been filed by former and current students of Jamia Millia Islamia University by seeking a direction to prohibit the proposed telecast, the petitioners have contended that proposed telecast, as well as its trailer, institute feelings of hatred and criminal defamation in meaning of Sections 153A(1), 153B(1), 295A and 499 of Indian Penal Code.
The recently released promo of this disputed program claimed that the channel is fully prepared to air a program to expose the big conspiracy to sniggle Muslims in government jobs.
The High Court passed an interim order for the telecast of the show which was scheduled for today itself at 8PM. The high court bench of Justice Navin Chawla restricted the Sudarshan TV from telecasting its programme.
However in Supreme Court a bench of Judges , Justices D Y Chandrachud and K M Joseph stated that we have abstained from imposing a pre-broadcast interlocutory injunction on the basis of an speculative transcription of a forty nine second clip.
At the instance Advocate Shadan Farashat, on behalf of the petitioners, while showing the video clip of the trailer of ‘Bindas Bol’ program released by the TV channel, said that it violated the program manual under Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1994 . He said that if this program aired, constituted feelings of hatred and criminal defamation and the petitioners would suffer irreparable damage.The petitioner stated that
“The proposed broadcast, if allowed to go ahead, would present a clear and present danger to the security of the Petitioners, as well as that of other students and alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia including those who cleared the Civil Services Exam in 2020, as well as the Muslim community at large, and would leave them open to the imminent threat of violence, including the possibility of lynching. This would amount to an extremely egregious violation of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed to the Petitioners under Article 21 of the Constitution,”
The matter will be heard in the High Court on September 7 and in Supreme Court will be heard on September 15.
By Priya Kumari
