new Delhi. The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the Centre’s ban on Malayalam TV news channel Media One. The central government had cited national security grounds to justify the ban.
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the court is of the view that the grounds for grant of interim relief by the petitioners have been made and the January 31 direction issued by the Centre, setting aside the security clearance granted to the TV channel, should be stayed till further orders. The bench allowed the channel to resume telecast till the final decision of the matter.
On March 10, the Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice on a petition by Malayalam news channel Media One challenging the Kerala High Court order which had upheld the Centre’s decision not to renew its broadcasting licence. The Center had cited national security grounds to justify the ban. The apex court granted interim relief in the petition filed by the channel.
The bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Justice Vikram Nath, passed the order after examining the files submitted by the home ministry citing security concerns with respect to the TV channel.
“The petitioners shall be allowed to continue the operation of the news and current affairs channel Media One on the same ground as the channel was being operated for cancellation of the security clearance,” the bench said.
The top court has asked the Center to file a counter-affidavit in the matter within two weeks.
Media One had moved the apex court after the Kerala High Court upheld the ban imposed on it by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Chief Justice S. Manikumar and Justice Shaji P. Chali noted that when certain issues with regard to security of the State are concerned, the Government, without disclosing the full reasons for non-renewal, refuses to renew the permission granted. is free to do.
The High Court on March 2 dismissed an appeal by the channel’s management and journalists challenging the February 9 single bench order which had refused to lift the ban.
—AnyTV News
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