HC refuses early hearing to lift ban on BBC documentary

The Delhi High Court on Monday refused urgent hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking lifting of the ban on the telecast of controversial BBC documentary "India's Daughter".

The documentary is about the gang rape of a 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist, who was brutally assaulted on December 16, 2012 in a moving bus in Delhi.

It kicked up a storm after one of the convicts Mukesh Singh, awaiting death sentence for the December 16 gang rape, was interviewed in Delhi's Tihar Jail.

The documentary also has comments from the convicts' counsel A.P. Singh and M.L. Sharma, who allegedly made derogatory remarks against women.

On Monday, a division bench of Justices B.D. Ahmed and Vibhu Bakhru refused early hearing, saying there was no such urgency in the matter and it will be heard on Wednesday.

A similar PIL (public interest litigation), seeking lifting of the ban will also be heard on Wednesday.

The documentary caused an uproar among a section of people in India after the government banned its telecast in all formats.

Two law students moved the high court, saying the ban on the documentary is a clear violation of their fundamental rights under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution.

The trial court on March 4 banned until further orders the broadcast of the documentary.