NDTV moves SC against one-day ban

Govt puts blackout on hold; apex court to hear case today

NDTV Ltd has approached the Supreme Court against a recent government order banning broadcast of its Hindi news channel NDTV India for a day. The media company has filed a writ petition questioning the constitutional validity of government action, the firm informed the BSE.  Meanwhile, the government has decided to hold the ban, an NDTV spokesperson said. “The order has been held by the government in response to an appeal,” she said.
 
According to sources, Prannoy Roy, co-founder and executive co-chairperson of New Delhi Television and other officials of the channel met information and broadcasting (I&B) minister Venkaiah Naidu on Monday. In the meeting, the company’s representatives requested the minister for a review of the order.

 
“NDTV Ltd and others have filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court challenging the said order, inter-alia, challenging the constitutional validity of the said order and the provisions of law pursuant to which the said order has purportedly been passed,” a letter that NDTV Ltd sent to the BSE said.
 

Aunindyo Chakravarty, senior managing editor-NDTV India and an employee who holds NDTV shares, are the other parties in the petition.
 
The SC will hear the matter on Tuesday.
 
An I&B ministry order dated November 2 had asked NDTV India to go off-air for 24 hours between the midnight of November 9 and the midnight of November 10. The order, citing Sections 20(2) & 20(3), of the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act-1995 and Rule 6(1) (p), said the channel’s coverage in the early afternoon of January 4 divulged ‘strategically-sensitive’ information while a terrorist attack at Pathankot was underway.

 
“NDTV India TV Channel has given away information on the ammunition stockpiled in the airbase, MIGs, fighter planes, rocket launchers, mortars, helicopters, fuel tanks which was likely to be used by the terrorists themselves or their handlers to cause massive harm not only to the national security, international standing of the country but also life of civilians and defence personnel. Telecast of such strategically-sensitive information was also likely to be used by the perpetrators to put impediment in the counter-operations carried by the security forces,” the I&B ministry said in the order.
 
Meanwhile, the Press Club of India, Editor’s Guild and various other media associations on Monday jointly issued a resolution asking the government to immediately quash the order.

 
“It is in utter disregard of the already established redress mechanisms – Press Council of India and National Broadcasting Standards Association — which has been specifically constituted to look into such issues,” the resolution read.