The Media One news channel ban imposed by the Indian Central Government has been lifted by the Supreme Court. They also criticized the government for restricting citizens’ rights in the name of national security. The case was presented to a bench including Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Koli, who stated that media freedom is essential and that Media One’s criticism of government policies cannot be considered anti-national. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s refusal to renew the channel’s broadcasting license was set aside, with the judges stating that people’s rights should not be denied under the pretext of national security. The Central Government was criticized for not providing any factual evidence to justify its decision or for treating investigative reports as confidential, violating the principles of natural and transparent justice. The government’s position that the press should support government activities was deemed unacceptable. Media One went off air on January 31 last year after being removed from a blacklist, leading to a supreme court ruling on March 15 staying the Kerala High Court’s support of the government’s decision. The latest verdict overturns this decision.
New Delhi: Yesterday, the Supreme Court canceled the ban imposed by the Central Government on Kerala’s Media One news channel. Moreover, the judges strongly criticized the central government for not curtailing the rights of citizens in the name of national security.
The case related to Media One news channel came up for hearing yesterday before a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Koli. The judges then said:
Freedom of the press is essential: Media One channel’s criticism of government policies and activities cannot be considered anti-national. Freedom of the press is essential to a vibrant democracy.
The order of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting which refused to renew the broadcasting license of Media One channel due to lack of security clearance is set aside.
People’s rights cannot be denied on the pretext of national security. The Union Home Ministry has acted apathetically in this case. Therefore, the judgment passed by the Kerala Court accepting the decision of the Central Government is set aside.
No reasonable cause: The central government has not produced any factual evidence to justify its decision to impose a ban on Media One.
The ruling government’s position that the press should support government activities cannot be tolerated. Criticism of the government alone cannot be grounds for cancellation of franchise of a television channel.
Transparency required: The report filed by the Central Government in a sealed cover violates the principles of natural justice and transparent justice.
It is not acceptable for the government to use this as a tool to cover up the disclosure of information to the opposing party in court proceedings. All investigative reports cannot be treated as confidential. Because they affect the rights and liberties of citizens. This is what the judges said in their verdict.
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has refused to renew the broadcasting license of Media One channel citing national security. Media One went off air on January 31 last year after the channel was removed from the blacklist. On March 15 last year, the Supreme Court stayed the order passed by the Kerala High Court in support of this decision of the central government. In this situation, now the Supreme Court has issued this order in Media One case.