Notice to Sudarshan TV, Centre seeks time; SC adjourns hearing

On Monday, the Centre told the court that an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) had reviewed the issue and the channel’s reply and given its recommendation to the government on October 4.

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned hearing on the petition against Sudarshan TV’s programme “UPSC Jihad”, with the Centre informing the court that the channel has been given one more notice, hearing on which is scheduled for Tuesday.

When the matter came up for hearing last on September 24, the Centre had told the court that a notice was issued to the channel under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, asking it to show cause why action should not be taken for alleged violation of the Programme Code in the broadcast of the show.

On Monday, the Centre told a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee that an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) had reviewed the issue and the channel’s reply and given its recommendation to the government on October 4. Seeking more time, the Centre said in a letter to the court, and circulated among the parties, that the IMC has given certain additional recommendations regarding the yet-to-be-telecast episodes.

In view of this, the competent authority of the Central government is duty-bound to give one more opportunity to the channel to respond to the IMC’s recommendations, the Centre said. It said the authority will be able to pass any orders only after that.

Accepting this, the bench adjourned the hearing to October 26.

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