Top court issues direct notice on Media One’s petition challenging ban

10-03-2022

The Top court today issued notice on a petition challenging the non-renewal of the telecast licence for a Kerala TV channel Media One, financed by the Kerala chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami.

The court also directed notice on the interim prayer of the channel to allow it to continue its broadcasting and fixed 15th March to look into the matter.

Three judge apex court bench composed of justices D Y Chandrachud, Suyra Kant and Vikram Nath directed notice on the challenge by Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited, which operates the channel, against the Kerala High Court judgement upholding the Union’s decision.

The bench also informed the Union government to produce case files that were depended upon by the Kerala High Court.

Senior lawyers Mukul Rohatgi and Dushyant Dave on behalf of Media One, mentioned to the court that the news agency has been fully shut down and it has close to two and half crore viewers each day.

Justice DY Chandrachud mentioned in the order that “The government shall produce relevant files on which reliance was placed by the High Court in its judgment”.

Media One was stopped broadcasting by the Central government Information and Broadcasting ministry after the MHA refused to give allowance to the news agency, citing National security reasons. 

Earlier on 9th February a single bench of the Kerala High Court upheld the prohibition on the media agency.

Previous Monday, Dave informed the matter in front of the court bench headed by CJI N.V. Ramana. He said that for almost twelve years, the media agency has worked and the channel has more than  350 employees and crores of viewers.