Delhi HC stays telecast of Sudarshan TV’s ‘hate show’ against Jamia students, Muslims

Aug 28, 2020

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday stayed the broadcast of Sudarshan News channel show on petition by the students of Jamia Millia Islamia which said the show incited hate against them and the Muslim community.

The stay order has been passed by a single-Bench of Justice Navin Chavla in an urgent hearing, according to a report by LiveLaw.

The program titled “Bindas Bol” on Sudarshan News, scheduled to be aired at 8 pm today, contained content that may defame, attack and incite hatred against Jamia Milia Islamia, its alumni and the Muslim community at large, advocate Shadan Farast said on behalf of the petitioners.

They said they had seen trailer of the show, anchored by journalist Suresh Chavhanke, in which Mr. Chavhanke, which claims that the success of Jamia Milia Islamia students in the Civil Services examination 2020 represents a “conspiracy to infiltrate the civil service by Muslims”.

The petitioner submitted that Mr. Chavhanke has “openly incited his target non-Muslim audience by fear-mongering that “jihadis” or terrorists from Jamia Milia Islamia would soon hold positions of authority and power like that of Collector and Secretary.”

It was contended that the proposed broadcast along with the trailer violates the programme code set out under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, read with the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994. The proposed broadcast and trailer also constitute hate speech and criminal defamation and is an offence under Sections 153A (1), 153B(1), 295A and 499 of the Indian Penal Code, the LawLive report said.
–India News Stream