Justice Chandrachud on Sudarshan TV case: SC staying something is like nuclear missile

New Delhi : Supreme Court on friday in Sudarshan TV case, said, ‘ no media channel can target a particular religion in the name of Investigative Journalism’. Justice D Y Chandrachud said, “The Supreme Court staying something is like a nuclear missile. But we had to step in because nobody was taking any action.”

The Supreme Court said it had to interfere iand stay the broadcast of the show “UPSC Jihad” on Sudarshan News on September 15 as nobody was taking any action. This is good example for self-regulation, said Chandrachud and asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for suggestions.

The bench also consisting Justices Indu Malhotra and K M Joseph complained of some images used in the show and called it “offensive” and “hurtful” and should be removed.

During the hearing of the case, Advocate Farasat said, ‘All the episodes of the program were full of hate speech. We are in this together because it is really the job of the court to order prohibitory orders in the particular case.

On behalf of NBA, Advocate Nisha Bhambani said, ‘It is not that we do nothing. We make these channels apologize.

Justice Chandrachud mentioned, “We are not doing the role of a censor. We are therefore going to give you a chance to say what you want to do. Without the court telling you what you have to do, you must come and tell us what you will do.

In defence of the editor in Chief Suresh Chavhanke, senior advocate Shyam Divan said he will file an affidavit explaining what he proposed to do. Divan has also urged the bench to lift the stay imposed by it on telecast of remaining episodes of the show.

Solicitor Mehta has asked SC to take action on the matter of Sudarshan News but not to expand frame rules for the entire electronic media.