HC asks Centre to supply recordsdata on revocation of TV channel Media One’s broadcasting licence

By Express News Service

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to make out there the recordsdata referring to the denial of safety clearance and revocation of the broadcasting licence of Media One TV channel by February 7. The court docket additionally prolonged until February 7 its interim order deferring the implementation of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB)’s order revoking the licence of the TV channel.

Justice N Nagaresh issued the order on the petition filed by Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited, Kozhikode, which owns the channel, looking for to quash the order.

S Manu, Assistant Solicitor General, contended the MHA had denied the safety clearance based mostly on varied intelligence inputs, which had been delicate and secret. Therefore, as a matter of coverage and within the curiosity of nationwide safety, the MHA couldn’t disclose the explanations for the denial of safety clearance. The channel’s licence had been rescinded after due software of the related facets of the breach of safety clearance. He additionally identified that even for the renewal of the licences, safety clearance from the MHA was obligatory.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had adopted scrupulously all of the procedures earlier than taking a last name on the problem, he stated. Moreover, the interval of the licence of the channel has expired. Hence, the ASG sought to vacate the interim order because the extension of it could defeat the very goal of the rules. He additionally submitted that every one the recordsdata referring to the choice to revoke the licence could be produced earlier than the court docket.

S Sreekumar, counsel for the petitioner, argued that the process adopted by the central authorities to revoke the licence was unparalleled and unlawful, violating the liberty of the press. The channel had been granted permission in 2011 for uplinking and delinking programmes after getting safety clearance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The safety clearance was required solely when a brand new channel was began, he stated. The firm had utilized for renewal of the licence after the expiry of the 10-year licence interval. The tips on the uplinking and delinking programmes didn’t stipulate {that a} recent safety clearance must be obtained when the licence was renewed. He identified that although the Centre had stated that the MHA had denied a safety clearance, it couldn’t say what was the safety breach dedicated by the channel. The channel had not brought about any hindrance or interfered with the safety of the nation, he stated.