New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday stayed the Modi government’s 31 January order banning telecast of Malayalam TV channel MediaOne on “security grounds”.
A bench of Justices Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath said the channel can continue operations as it were prior to the ban.
MediaOne was banned after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) refused to give security clearance to the channel when its 10-year licence expired. The MHA had cited national security concerns, based on intelligence inputs, for its decision.
On 10 March, the Supreme Court had sought response from the government on the channel’s plea against the Kerala High Court order upholding the Centre’s decision to ban its telecast.
The Kerala High Court had on 2 March stated that denial of security clearance to MediaOne was “justified” since national security was involved. The court had also dismissed pleas filed by journalists and management of the channel challenging the Centre’s decision.
The channel had then approached the Supreme Court contending that the exact reasons for non-renewal of the licence was not revealed to them and that the Kerala HC had given the decision on the basis of some sealed documents submitted by the MHA.
The channel had also argued that the MHA clearance was only required at the time for fresh permission/licence and not at the time of renewal.
The top court Tuesday also directed the Centre to file a detailed counter affidavit by 26 March on the appeals filed by the channel against the high court order.
(With inputs from agencies)
Also read: ‘Hijab not essential religious practice in Islamic law,’ says Karnataka HC, restriction to stay