Pinnacle court stays union government’ ban on Kerala news channel

15-03-2022

The Indian pinnacle court today made an interim order staying the union government's broadcast ban on Kerala news channel MediaOne.

The top court in its interim order allowed the channel to continue broadcasting.

The court agreed to the petitions by Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited and its workers against the order  of the central government to stop renewing its licence further.

Three judges Bench composed of justices D Y Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath noted that the news and present issues of the channel will resume its functions as it was operating prior to the ban of broadcast.

The court left the question unclosed on whether information of documents on the base of which the ban file was passed be given to the broadcasting company to enable it to protect itself.

The apex court ordered the union to file a complete detailed counter affidavit by 26th March on the appeals made by the broadcasting company against the order of Kerala Highcourt.

On 10th March, the apex court had asked for an answer from the Union government on the channel's petition against the Kerala High Court judgement upholding the Union’s decision to ban its broadcast rights regarding national security concerns.

Previously, the Kerala High Court upheld the Union’s decision to ban broadcasting rights of the Kerala news channel and had struck down the petition of Madhyamam Broadcasting Ltd -- which runs MediaOne channel; challenging  the Union government's 31st January decision.

The Kerala high court had mentioned that the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the denial of access regarding security clearance was based on high intelligence reports received from different investigative gencies.