New Delhi, The Delhi High Court has ordered uninterrupted transmission of Telugu news channel TV9 after the service provider discontinued it earlier this month under alleged pressure from the Andhra Pradesh government.
A vacation bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the order after the multi-system operator/service provider concerned said the channel's transmission was unhindered in the Telugu-speaking states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
"This court records at the outset the submission made by the learned counsel appearing for respondent No. 2 (service provider) that the transmission of the petitioner's channel i.e. TV9 Telugu is uninterrupted and unhindered and is broadcasts in the states of Telangana as well as Andhra Pradesh," the court noted in its order issued on June 24.
"Accordingly, it is ordered that in terms of the submission made on behalf of the respondent no. June 2024. ", he ordered.
Welcoming the direction, the Federation of News Broadcasters said the landmark order addresses the "unilateral and illegal blackout" of news channels in Andhra Pradesh and reinforces the fundamental principles of freedom of expression, cornerstones of our society democratic.
Associated Broadcasting Company Private Limited, which runs TV9 Telugu, moved the high court against the "illegal" disconnection of its channel by the multi-system operator, arguing that the act was contrary to the agreement between them.
The court observed that the petitioner had already moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and the present petition was filed in the interregnum as the court was closed for summer vacations.
Some news channels stopped broadcasting in several places in Andhra Pradesh after the declaration of the results of the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections and an opposition MP from the YSRCP alleged that they had been coerced by the new state government, which led to its blockage.
Allegations of channel blocking (TV9, NTV, 10TV and Sakshi TV) were leveled against the state's NDA government comprising TDP, BJP and JanaSena party.
A vacation bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the order after the multi-system operator/service provider concerned said the channel's transmission was unhindered in the Telugu-speaking states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
"This court records at the outset the submission made by the learned counsel appearing for respondent No. 2 (service provider) that the transmission of the petitioner's channel i.e. TV9 Telugu is uninterrupted and unhindered and is broadcasts in the states of Telangana as well as Andhra Pradesh," the court noted in its order issued on June 24.
"Accordingly, it is ordered that in terms of the submission made on behalf of the respondent no. June 2024. ", he ordered.
Welcoming the direction, the Federation of News Broadcasters said the landmark order addresses the "unilateral and illegal blackout" of news channels in Andhra Pradesh and reinforces the fundamental principles of freedom of expression, cornerstones of our society democratic.
Associated Broadcasting Company Private Limited, which runs TV9 Telugu, moved the high court against the "illegal" disconnection of its channel by the multi-system operator, arguing that the act was contrary to the agreement between them.
The court observed that the petitioner had already moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and the present petition was filed in the interregnum as the court was closed for summer vacations.
Some news channels stopped broadcasting in several places in Andhra Pradesh after the declaration of the results of the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections and an opposition MP from the YSRCP alleged that they had been coerced by the new state government, which led to its blockage.
Allegations of channel blocking (TV9, NTV, 10TV and Sakshi TV) were leveled against the state's NDA government comprising TDP, BJP and JanaSena party.
