New Delhi, July 12 (UNI) Underlining it commitment to protect freedom of speech and expression, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Karnataka High Court order restraining Kannada news channel Power TV and its affiliate Mitcoin Infraprojects from broadcasting news on the grounds of lack of proper licence. The top court said the ban on the channel, on the face of it, seemed to be a case of “political vendetta”.
The news channel has been in the forefront of reporting sexual assault allegations against former Janata Dal-Secular Member of Parliament Prajwal Revanna and his brother Suraj Revanna.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, while staying the High Court order, said, “We are inclined to protect freedom of speech and expression. The more we hear this it looks like a plain case of political vendetta and this court will be failing in its duty if it is not protected.”
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta protested the CJI’s scathing remarks, saying it is not borne out from record as the show cause notice of February 9 related to the channel sub-letting its uplink and downlinking licence.
The Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre and others on a petition filed by Power TV and others and stayed the High Court order till July 15.
The High Court had ordered the stopping of broadcasting by Power TV on grounds of lack of proper licence.
Senior advocates Ranjit Kumar and Sunil Fernandes and advocate Mithu Jain representing Power TV challenged the High Court order in the Apex Court arguing that they are not getting equal treatment as 34 other channels which are similarly placed as the Petitioner.
The Petitioner argued that the High Court has not treated them on the same footing and meted with unequal and differential treatment.
The plea said that there are many news channels whose application for renewal are pending consideration similar to the petitioner’s situation and they are still fully functional.
The plea said that shutting down of their news channel based on the show cause notice served to them and without allowing them an opportunity to file their reply is highly prejudicial towards them as about 200 employees are currently employed with the TV Channel and their career is at stake.
The Centre had submitted that a show cause notice was issued that the permission for Power TV was valid till October 12, 2021. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said its renewal application dated December 30, 2022, was under consideration.
The High Court had on June 25 restrained Power TV from carrying out any broadcasting activity till July 9.
The High Court passed the interim order after hearing two petitions filed by senior serving Indian Police Sservice officer Dr B R Ravikanthegowda, and JDS leader and Member of Legislative Council Ramesh Gowda and his wife Dr A Ramya Ramesh.
It was argued before the High Court that despite proceedings already initiated by the Centre against the news channel and other private respondents, they continued to broadcast without renewal of licence.
