The Center had banned the broadcast of news channel MediaOne.
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday overruled the Central government which had stopped the broadcast of Malayalam news channel MediaOne on the grounds of national security. The court said that the channel’s criticism of the policies and actions of the government cannot be considered anti-national or anti-incumbency and a free press is essential for a vibrant democracy.
While quashing an order of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting which refused to renew the broadcasting license of the channel in the absence of security clearance, the Supreme Court pulled up the Ministry of Home Affairs for raising national security claims “off the air”.
A court led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said, “National security cannot be raised to deprive people of their rights… It was raised in a reckless manner by the Ministry of Home Affairs in this case.”
The judges said the Center had failed to show any material facts or evidence to justify its decision to impose a broadcast ban on MediaOne, which was one of the few channels that had organized large protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Delhi and other parts of the country. Reported on scale. country in February 2020.
The court said, “There is nothing to show terrorist link. Claims of national security cannot be made on air basis. It is seen that none of the material is against national security or poses a threat to public order”. “
The court said that the government cannot be allowed to take the stand that the press should support the government. It said that criticism of the government cannot be a ground for canceling the license of a TV channel.
“Absolute immunity cannot be given to the Government for disclosure of information to other parties in a proceeding before the Court… All investigation reports cannot be said to be secret as these affect the rights and liberties of the citizens,” The Supreme Court also said