The Kerala High Court will hear MediaOne TV’s appeal against the transmission restriction.
MediaOne TV, a Malayalam news channel, has appealed to a division bench of the Kerala High Court; appealing a single bench decision upholding the Ministry of Information and also Broadcasting’s transmission ban on the channel.
On Thursday, the appeal will be heard by a division bench consisting; of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly.
The channel’s prohibition was upheld by a single bench led by Justice N Nagaresh on February 8. The I & B Ministry did not also renew the channel’s; transmission license after the Ministry of Home Affairs refused to offer it security clearance for security grounds. After reviewing the MHA’s filings, the single bench concluded that there; are materials and intelligence reports in favor of the channel’s prohibition.
Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited, which owns MediaOne TV, stated in its appeal that the threat; to national security is being use as a ploy to revoke the channel’s license, which it claims has no substance. The station has been available to the public for more than a decade; and no proceedings have taken against the channel for any violation of law or the deplorable fact. Is that a show cause notice (as to why the appellant’s license should not be cancelled); was only provided when the appellant applied for renewal of its license. The license has cancel for no apparent reason, putting the lives of 350 channel employees in jeopardy.”
see also: PAK vs AUS: Pacer Mohammad Abbas, and spinner Yasir Shah, have been named reserves.
The judicial confirmation of the government’s illegal act, according to MediaOne TV; would also harm the constitution and suffocate the concept of fundamental rights; which would then become a qualified right that could easily be reduced at the whims of the government. “In the past, the government was tolerant of legitimate criticism, but the current trend is concerning; as it restricts press freedom and freedom of expression. No news channel will dare to air any program against the government’s sweet; will in the future, as the government may find it convenient to restrict the channel by manipulating; intelligence reports and also other materials.
According to the appeal, the I&B Ministry’s order canceling the broadcast license is in violation; of Articles 19 (1) and 14 of the Indian Constitution, and “the license ought not to have; withdrawn unless there are acceptable warranting circumstances, such as a threat to national security.”
[…] read also: The Kerala High Court will hear MediaOne TV’s appeal against the transmission restricti… […]