New Delhi: Observing that the case appeared to be motivated by "sheer political vendetta", the Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Karnataka High Court order restricting the broadcast of Kannada news channel Power TV.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra observed that the case against the news channel was prima facie aimed at restraining the channel from airing allegations of sex scandals involving political figures in the state. .
While notifying the Center and others about the plea filed by M/s Power Smart Media Pvt Ltd, the court also stayed the high court's order till Monday and posted it for hearing the next day.
Noting that the court will protect freedom of speech and expression, the court said the channel had the right to continue its broadcast, which should not have been stopped.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said the case concerned the unauthorized grant of a license by the original license holder to another person.
The Center can certainly proceed with the consequent process after issuance of the show-cause notice, the court said.
"The more we listen to them, the more we become convinced that this is a political vendetta. Let me be very honest. That is why we are inclined to protect freedom of expression," he said.
The court said the channel wanted to air some allegations regarding the sex scandal in the state.
"The idea was to completely silence their voice, this court has a duty to allow it. This is pure political vendetta and nothing more. Therefore, this court will fail in its duty if we do not protect (the channel)." he said he.
The channel reportedly aired news related to recent allegations of sex scandals involving JD(S) leaders Prajwal Revanna and others.
The channel attacked a division order of the Karnataka High Court. The division bench had refused to interfere with the stay order passed by the single bench against the broadcast of the channel.
The top court had passed the order on the petitions filed by JD(S) MLC HM Ramesh Gowda and others.
On June 26, the single judge of the high court suspended the operation of the channel. The Center issued a show cause notice to the channel in connection with certain allegations related to its licence.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra observed that the case against the news channel was prima facie aimed at restraining the channel from airing allegations of sex scandals involving political figures in the state. .
While notifying the Center and others about the plea filed by M/s Power Smart Media Pvt Ltd, the court also stayed the high court's order till Monday and posted it for hearing the next day.
Noting that the court will protect freedom of speech and expression, the court said the channel had the right to continue its broadcast, which should not have been stopped.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said the case concerned the unauthorized grant of a license by the original license holder to another person.
The Center can certainly proceed with the consequent process after issuance of the show-cause notice, the court said.
"The more we listen to them, the more we become convinced that this is a political vendetta. Let me be very honest. That is why we are inclined to protect freedom of expression," he said.
The court said the channel wanted to air some allegations regarding the sex scandal in the state.
"The idea was to completely silence their voice, this court has a duty to allow it. This is pure political vendetta and nothing more. Therefore, this court will fail in its duty if we do not protect (the channel)." he said he.
The channel reportedly aired news related to recent allegations of sex scandals involving JD(S) leaders Prajwal Revanna and others.
The channel attacked a division order of the Karnataka High Court. The division bench had refused to interfere with the stay order passed by the single bench against the broadcast of the channel.
The top court had passed the order on the petitions filed by JD(S) MLC HM Ramesh Gowda and others.
On June 26, the single judge of the high court suspended the operation of the channel. The Center issued a show cause notice to the channel in connection with certain allegations related to its licence.
