Updated: September 11, 2020 4:30:13 pm
The channel is run by Suresh Chavhanke. (File photo)
On Friday, the Delhi High Court refused to suspend the broadcast of a program on the Sudarshan News channel, which claimed to be a “complaint” about the “infiltration of Muslims” in the public administration. An announcement has been sent to the channel.
The latest development comes after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, citing that there are no prior censorship of any programs broadcast on television channels, asked the channel, headed by Suresh Chavhanke, to ensure that the show does not violate established program code.
Claiming vindication of his position, Chavhanke had said in a statement that he will broadcast the program “Bindas Bol” on Friday at 8 pm.
The program had come under judicial scrutiny in the Delhi High Court and High Court last month. The high court had refused to impose a pre-broadcast ban on Sudarshan TV, but the high court in a provisional order suspended the broadcast of the show, which was scheduled to air at 8 pm on August 28.
The program promotion claimed to contain a “Great Exhibition on Conspiracy to Infiltrate Muslims Into Government Service”, referring to alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University who passed the civil service exam this year.
Students at Jamia Millia Islamia University said the program sought to incite hatred against them. The High Court petition, filed by current and former Jamia students, stated that the program sought to “defame, attack and incite hatred against Jamia Millia Islamia, his former students and the Muslim community at large.”
Chavhanke tweeted a promotion for the show last month, using the phrase “Jamia ke Jihadi.” In both the promo video and his tweet, Chavhanke used the hashtag “UPSC_Jihad.”
Explained | Censorship before a show: the law, sentences
Acting on the complaints about the promotion, the Ministry of I&B had sent a notice to Sudarshan News, asking it to clarify the content of the program in the context of the Program Code enshrined in the Rules of the Cable Television Network, 1994.
“Taking into account the facts and circumstances of the aforementioned case, the Sudarshan television channel is ordered to ensure that the program proposed to be broadcast does not violate any of the program codes. If any violation of the program code is found, the measures provided by law will be taken, ”said the ministry’s order.
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