MediaOne news channel case: SC gives govt 3 weeks to file affidavit
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Central government three weeks to file an affidavit with its explanation about the decision to ban the Malayalam news channel MediaOne.
The apex court was considering the appeal by Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited, owner of the channel, and two others against Kerala High Court's judgement upholding the decision of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to not renew the broadcast licence of the channel, based on inputs received from Ministry of Home Affairs citing security concerns. The channel suspended broadcasting on January 31 following the non-renewal of its licence.
The appeals filed by MediaOne first before a single bench and later by a full bench of Kerala High Court were rejected following which the channel approached the Supreme Court.
The Centre had requested the court to allow four weeks to file its affidavit to include explanations by the higher levels of the government.
The case will be heard again in the first week of May. The interim order of the Supreme Court which stayed s the transmission ban will continue to be in force. .
The Centre had sought more time in the Supreme Court yesterday to respond to the petition filed by MediaOne management in the case. Earlier, the apex court had given till March 30 to file the affidavit. However, the Centre approached the court seeking more time as it was unable to meet the deadline.
The Media One channel resumed broadcasting on March 16 after the Supreme Court bench comprising Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Vikram Nath stayed the central government's order banning its broadcast on March 15.
Senior advocates Dushyant Dave, Mukul Rohtagi, Hufeza Ahmadi and Harris Beeran appeared for MediaOne.