NEW DELHI: The Center informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it has prima facie found violation of the program’s code by Sudarshan TV‘s’Bindas Bol‘show and has issued a notice to the channel.
A bench of judges DY Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and KM Joseph were informed by Attorney General Tushar Mehta that Sudarshan TV has to give a response to the notice of the demonstration of cause before September 28, otherwise a decision will be taken ex part.
The four-page notice has sought a written submission from the channel regarding the show’s code violation and why no action should be taken against it, Mehta said during the brief hearing.
The detailed notice under the Cable Television Networks Act of 1995 was issued today, showing facts that, according to the government, are prima facie not in accordance with the program code, he said.
Mehta suggested that hearing the matter be postponed until the channel’s response.
The bank noted that if the case had not been heard, all episodes would have already aired.
He postponed the hearing to October 5, saying that the Center will present a report on the result of the decision taken.
The bank said the order approved Sept. 15 ordering the television broadcast of the remaining episodes of the show will continue until then.
Initially, the higher court asked the auditors to submit written submissions, if any.
On September 21, the high court had reflected on the nature and scope of its order regulating the ‘Bindas Bol’ program on the alleged infiltration of Muslims into the bureaucracy saying that it did not want to “restrict” freedom of expression since the program has “public interest”. involved in “foreign financing” and “reserve” issues.
The higher court, which already imposed the pre-broadcast ban on episodes of ‘UPSC Jehad’ in a plea filing complaints against it on grounds including hate speech, was upset that the channel, in its statement sworn in, have appointed an English News Channel for running two shows about Hindu terror before.
“Why did you say about the programs (of the English news channel)? Who asked about your opinion about the programs,” he had said.
lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who appeared for editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke, had said that his affidavit contained a reference to the English Channel and its shows on Hindu terror, as he was previously asked why the episodes of ‘UPSC Jehad’ have ” shown Muslim men wearing caps and wearing greens. ”
The court then said, “Does this mean that every time the judges ask questions, you will shoot yourself in the mouth with your opinions? If that is the case, the judges will stop asking questions. You are not supposed to file affidavits about all the questions the judges ask. The judges ask questions to get a better answer. ”
When told by the petitioners that the episodes had violated the code of the program under the rules of cable television, the higher court reflected on the scope of control and the restraint that it can impose through its orders.
“This program (‘Bindas Bol’) has the public interest involved in (matters of) foreign funding or in reserve. If we are going to issue a court order (suspension), then what kind of court order will it be, should it be a court order general. There is also public interest involved in it, “the bank had observed.
The higher court had observed that it is necessary to protect constitutional values and human dignity, but the court cannot “become the executor of the program code.”
The channel had urged the supreme court to lift the suspension on television broadcasting of the remaining six episodes of the controversial show, saying the channel would abide by the laws.
Earlier, the high court had questioned Sudarshan TV about its show asking whether the media can be allowed to “target a whole set of communities.”
He had asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the National Association of Broadcasters to submit suggestions to strengthen the NBA’s “self-regulatory mechanism” for electronic media.
.
