New Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) stayed the Union government's ban on the Malayalam TV channel MediaOne, Live Law reported.
The top court issued the stay after the media firm filed a special leave petition against the Kerala High Court's verdict, upholding the Centre's ban. The court ruled that the channel could operate as it used to until the court issued its next order.
The SC bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath studied the confidential files submitted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which raised security concerns on the channel being aired.
The channel's appeal against the High Court order was filed on March 10, when the Supreme Court bench agreed to have the hearing starting March 15. After hearing some arguments about the tenability of the 'sealed cover' procedure adopted by the Central government, the court stated its decision on the stay.
"We are of the view that the case of grant of interim relief has been made out. We order and direct that Union Govt order revoking security clearance to Madhyaman Broadcasting Ltd stands stayed pending further orders. The petitioners shall be permitted to continue operating the news & current affairs channel MediaOne on the same basis as the channel was being operated prior to the revocation of clearance", the Court's order stated, as reported by Livelaw.